Vol. 451 No. 5
19 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will assist and facilitate the proposed hearings on Northern Ireland planned by Congressman Ben Gilman in the Congress of the United States. [3653/95]
The United States House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, chaired by Congressman Ben Gilman, held a hearing on Northern Ireland on 15 March 1995.
This meeting focused on the peace process and, in particular, on the role the United States can play in encouraging reconciliation and dialogue in Ireland through measures to assist economic development and investment on this island.
The meeting was addressed by five members of Congress and by a number of other speakers who included Mr. Richard Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs at the US Department of State.
The Government was not asked to assist or facilitate the hearing or to participate in it in any way. It was, however, an initiative which developed in a positive and constructive fashion the Congress's engagement with the peace process and as such, was, something to which we could readily give our support.
I availed of my visit to Washington on 27-28 February to discuss a range of matters with Congressman Gilman. The Taoiseach also met Congressman Gilman during his recent visit to the United States. We expressed the Government's deep appreciation of his long standing work on behalf of the Irish-American community, of Irish interests generally and of his strong support in encouraging the process of reconciliation and political dialogue on this island.
Congressman Gilman will be visiting Ireland later this month. We look forward to welcoming him and holding further discussions with him on these issues.
I share the Minister's view that Republican Congressman Gilman has been and continues to be a good friend of Ireland. In the event of further meetings being held by the committee, will the Government give evidence and provide whatever assistance and information is required by Congressman Gilman?
We will have an opportunity to discuss these matters and whether it is intended to hold further hearings when Congressman Gilman visits Ireland later this month. As the Deputy acknowledged, Congressman Gilman has been a very good friend of Ireland, in the best meaning of that word, for many years, has an abiding interest in the conflict and has done tremendous work. There was a positive note at the hearings held on 15-16 March and all parties will have an opportunity to discuss these matters with Congressman Gilman later this month.
Will the Minister agree that congressional opinion, as reflected by Congressman Gilman's group, shows increasing frustration at the delays by the British Government in entering ministerial talks with Republicans, particularly as it has had a meeting with Loyalists who, as far as one can judge, were not required to be as forthcoming on the decommissioning issue?
We are having an expansion of this question.
This matter arises under a later question.
