Gay Mitchell
Question:6 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether all parties to the Northern peace talks accept the principle of consent. [18198/97]
Priority Questions. - Northern Ireland Peace Process.
The Government is committed to the principle of consent. We have made clear on a number of occasions, most recently in the joint statement issued by the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister on 15 September last, that consent will be a guiding principle in the present all-party negotiations. The procedural motion adopted in the plenary of the talks on 24 September and which launched the substantive negotiations supported the views of the two Governments on consent. Sinn Féin voted against the section of that motion which dealt with consent.
It is important to be aware that acceptance of the principle of consent, however desirable, is not a precondition for participation in the talks. This principle will be discussed alongside other issues in the negotiations.
There is a further set of principles — the six Mitchell principles — which are also relevant to any discussion of this issue. One of these principles, as set out in the report of the international body chaired by Senator George Mitchell, requires the parties "to agree to abide by the terms of any agreement reached in all-party negotiations and to resort to democratic and exclusively peaceful methods in trying to alter any aspect of that outcome with which they may disagree". The two Governments and the political parties, including Sinn Féin, have affirmed their commitment to these principles. The Government expects all parties to honour this commitment.
I am aware the Governments are committed to consent and that all parties to the talks have signed the Mitchell principles. However, Sinn Féin refused to sign the forum report in early 1995 and in more recent interviews Sinn Féin leaders have spoken about the consent of the Irish people rather than explicitly recognising the need for the consent of the people of Northern Ireland. Does the Minister accept that as a fair assessment of the situation?
It is terribly important that Sinn Féin is part of the talks process. Sinn Féin voted against the element of the procedural motion which contained a reference to the principle of consent. The party made a statement setting out its position on the issue, which it sees as being within an all-Ireland context. This did not prevent the adoption of the motion.
While Sinn Féin's position on consent differs from that of the other participants, acceptance of an agreed position on consent is not a precondition for participation in the negotiations. Consent is an issue which will be addressed during the negotiations alongside many other issues on which there is at present no agreement. Let us not try to anticipate the negotiations. Instead let us encourage all sides to make the necessary compromises that will be required in the future if a fair, just, honourable and decent settlement is to be reached.
Is the Minister offering an assurance to the House that the consent of the people of Northern Ireland will be required to any outcome of the talks, irrespective of the reserve position of any persons or parties participating in those talks?
As the Deputy is aware, the word "consent" has been mentioned in many places and in all the documentation produced since the beginning of the peace process. It might be helpful to the Deputy if I outline where the word "consent" is mentioned.
In Article 1 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of November 1985 both Governments "affirm that any change in the status of Northern Ireland would only come about with the consent of a majority of the people in Northern Ireland". In the Downing Street Declaration of 1993 the two Governments undertook to apply the principle of self-determination by the people of Ireland on the following basis. The British Government "recognise that it is for the people of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively and without external impediment, to exercise the right of self-determination on the basis of consent freely and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland if that is their wish". The Irish Government accepted that "it would be wrong to attempt to impose a united Ireland in the absence of the freely given consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland" and that "the democratic right of self-determination by the people of Ireland as a whole must be achieved and exercised with, and subject to the agreement and consent of, a majority of the people of Northern Ireland".
In the Joint Framework Document of February 1995 the two Governments say they will apply the principle of self-determination as set out in the Downing Street Declaration. Again the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland is identified. On 15 September last in a joint declaration the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach stated that consent will be a guiding principle for them in the negotiations from which no outcome is excluded or predetermined. There is reference to consent in all the documentation produced since the beginning of the peace process.