Trevor Sargent
Question:85 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has sought the Ulster Unionist Party's view of the deteriorating situation in Ballymena generally, and Harryville, in particular. [4501/97]
Written Answers. - Harryville (Ballymena) Demonstrations.
The Government has not had formal discussions with the Ulster Unionist Party regarding the demonstrations which have taken place since last September outside the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena. Contacts with members of the various Northern parties in the framework of the multi-party talks and elsewhere do, of course, provide some opportunity for informal discussion of many issues relating to Northern Ireland, including our concerns at the situation in Harryville. I certainly welcome the leadership shown by a number of Unionist and loyalist political leaders, including the Ulster Unionist Mayor of Ballymena, James Currie, in defending the right of the parishioners in Harryville to worship freely and in seeking to defuse tensions there. We are glad at any time to listen to the views of the Ulster Unionists parties on this and other issues.