Vol. 472 No. 7
21 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he welcomes the statement of the current United States administration's policy on Northern Ireland as recently expressed by Vice-President Gore. [20335/96]
The United States has played a key role in the search for lasting peace and for a comprehensive political settlement in Northern Ireland. The Government welcomes the ongoing constructive support of the United States administration which has been forthcoming at every stage in the peace process. In this policy we know the administration has had the full backing of the many friends of Ireland from both parties in the Houses of Congress.
The statement to which Deputy Ahern refers was delivered by Vice-President Gore at an Irish-American Presidential Forum in New York in late October. In his remarks on that occasion Vice-President Gore pledged a continued US role in the search for a lasting peace. Indeed, in his first press conference following his successful reelection, President Clinton reaffirmed that his new administration would be of assistance to the Irish and British Governments in this endeavour.
Alongside its support in the political arena, the US has sought to underpin the peace process through its support for economic development in the southern Border counties and in Northern Ireland. Starting with the appointment of Senator Mitchell as a special adviser for economic initiatives in Ireland, there has been a number of economic activities over the past two years. The latest such initiative was the Pittsburgh Trade and Investment Conference held in October, a followup to the Washington Conference of May 1995.
Another important strand of the US economic contribution to Northern Ireland and the Border counties has been their continuing support for the International Fund for Ireland. Their generous contributions to the International Fund total 270 million US dollars to date, making the US the largest contributor in cumulative terms to the Fund. We look forward to the continuing constructive and helpful engagement of the incoming US administration.
I would like to avail of this opportunity to express our appreciation for the role played by the outgoing US administration. We are particularly indebted to National Security Adviser Tony Lake for his dedication to the cause of peace. We wish him well in his new appointment.
I join the Tánaiste on his last point relating to Tony Lake and the positive role he played in the last administration. I wish him well in his new position. I would also express our gratitude to President Clinton and Vice-President Gore for the major role they are playing in the peace process. I hope they will continue to concentrate on it in their new term of office. We very much welcome the involvement of former Senator Mitchell. Is the Tánaiste aware of the meetings between Vice-President Gore and the Leader of the Unionist Party? Is he aware of any efforts to get the Leader of the Unionist Party to use his influence in regard to the appalling activities every Saturday night outside the church at Harryville, Ballymena? The Unionist Mayor has played a positive and constructive role in that regard. Will the Tánaiste use his offices, through the Anglo-Irish Conference and particularly the talks in Belfast, to call on Mr. Trimble and other participants in the talks to take a role in the Harryville controversy?
I expect the incoming US administration will be as involved in a constructive role in the peace process as has the administration of the past four years. We look forward to a continued and productive relationship with the President and the administration and I see no difficulty in that. I am aware of the recent meeting between Vice-President Gore and Mr. Trimble. It is important that Mr. Trimble had an opportunity to brief the White House from his perspective. I am not privy to the contents of that discussion but I am sure the very nasty incidents in Harryville were discussed. We have raised that matter with the British authorities. I commend the Mayor, churchmen and politicians who have taken a stand on this appalling issue. I hope Unionist politicians, some of whom were ambivalent initially but now seem to realise how serious and out of hand the situation has become, will act to ensure there is restraint so that churchgoers are allowed come and go freely to their place of worship. That is the worst sectarianism that has surfaced since last summer and I hope there will be no further difficulties in that regard this weekend.
