Vol. 453 No. 3
12 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government proposes to take to encourage dialogue and negotiation between all political parties in Northern Ireland to lead to agreement on institutions and arrangements for a lasting settlement there. [9295/95]
The Government is working to achieve the earliest possible commencement of a comprehensive process of dialogue, involving the two Governments and the relevant political parties in Northern Ireland, which would lead to the achievement of a lasting political settlement. It is in the interests of all the people of Ireland. North and South, that the unique opportunity for political progress afforded by peace should be built upon with all possible speed. To this end, we have recently issued invitations to the politicial parties in Northern Ireland to engage in bilateral discussions with the Government on the basis of an entirely open agenda. I hope that these discussions can get under way at a very early date.
In addition, the British Government has issued invitations to bilateral discussions and a number of such contacts have already taken place. The British Government is already engaged at ministerial level in dialogue with Sinn Féin. I am encouraged by the bilateral contacts which some of the Northern Ireland parties have established among themselves in recent weeks. The SDLP, the Ulster Unionist Party, the DUP and the Alliance Party have engaged in separate bilateral discussions on a range of topics and various further meetings are planned. I welcome in particular the recent meeting of a joint UUP-SDLP delegation with the British Prime Minister on economic and social issues of concern to both parties.
All political dialogue serves the ultimate objective of a new understanding on what might constitute a balanced political accommodation capable of reconciling the rights and interests of the two main traditions and of advancing the material welfare of all the people of this island.
I am glad that following much pressure from this side of the House the Taoiseach has extended an invitation to the parties in the North to participate in the Strand II talks. I hope that these discussions get under way as soon as possible. However I am concerned at the reluctance of the British Government to indicate its long term thinking on the North and the talks process. Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have emphasised that the talks cannot deal only with decommissioning. This is a very important item and it must be tackled in the context of the overall solution to the problem, but is there another item on the British agenda? If so, will the Minister reassure those involved in the peace process that he is pressing to ensure that full democratic participation is part of the British Government's agenda?
Obviously I cannot speak on behalf of the British Government. The Irish Government wants to bring about inclusive negotiations and discussions. I am satisfied from my meetings with the Secretary of State that a broader agenda is being exercised by the British Government — an agenda based on the Framework Document and on the Downing Street Declaration. There is a determination from Prime Minister level downwards to begin negotiations, discussions and dialogue with all the democratically mandated parties. Obviously, we want that to happen as soon as possible.
We should acknowledge that progress has been made in recent weeks. There is a terrible, and sometimes frustrating, tendency when we resolve an aspect of the problem for people to look for the next problem without allowing for a period in which we can benefit from the progress made. The moment the metings between Mr. Ancram and Sinn Féin were announced the media looked for the next problem. When will we move beyond that? A substantive amount of work has to be done at that level. I hope the meeting which will take place in Washington this week is yet another positive indicator in this whole process.
I urge the Tánaiste to take the opportunity to encourage the British to initiate round table talks if for no other reason than to let us see who is prepared to advance the peace process and attend talks and who is afraid of talks. What is there to be afraid of in talks? Let us see that the representatives of the Unionist community attend all party talks. Let them accept the invitation. If they do not accept the invitation they will come under pressure from their own community to be present. I urge the Tánaiste to encourage the British Government to invite all parties to a session of round table talks.
Whereas the objective is to get to round table talks and inclusive negotiations it may be desirable to have a round of bilateral discussions between the parties and the Governments initially. That was the procedure envisaged in the Framework Document and in the Downing Street Declaration. I would like to see that taking place as soon as possible. What is most important at this stage is that we do not either lose or give the impression of losing the momentum in this process.
It is nine months now.
It is nine months of peace on this island.
It cannot be taken for granted.
I do not think anybody is taking it for granted in the challenge we are facing. Many people appreciate that the hard work is beginning. At this phase of this stage much work has to be done. We have got to get involved in those discussions as quickly as possible.
Have the bilateral talks, to which the Tánaiste referred, as being advisable, taken place with each party or only with some parties? If that is the case, what steps will be taken to encourage every party to become involved in them? Will he agree that the main constitutional parties in the North and the more moderate parties seem to have been politically marking time over the past nine months and letting the agenda be run from elsewhere? Will he agree that is undesirable?
We want to get all parties engaged in talks. There is a responsibility on the parties in Northern Ireland, as there is on both Governments, to engage in bilateral talks and ultimately in round table discussions. All the parties have been invited. As the Deputy has said some parties seem to be holding off. What we need now is a session of bilateral talks to agree on the agenda and prepare for the inclusive negotiations.
Will the Tánaiste accept that nine months into the ceasefire when the marching season, a particularly dangerous time, has begun it is essential that progress be seen to be made rather than just talks? One area where he could put pressure on the British Government relates to the question of prisoners. This issue is absolutely vital both from the loyalist point of view and the republican point of view. The Government has moved forward on this question but the prison regime in the North has become harder and there have been no releases. An indication of a release policy is essential as the prisoners on both sides of the community played a vital role in bringing about the peace process.
We have to acknowledge there has been a considerable degree of progress since the cessation of military operations, be it in terms of opening cross-Border roads, the withdrawal of British Army patrols and the general policing in Northern Ireland. We want to build on that progress. I accept that the issue of prisoners raised by the Deputy is an important one from the point of view of both Governments. It has a high priority on our agenda and it will remain high because the prisoners have a very important role to play in both communities in terms of the influence they can exercise and in terms of their willingness to participate in democratic politics.
