John Bruton
Question:4 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the arrangements, if any, being made for the staging of an Anglo-Irish Summit in the near future. [18928/97]
Ceisteanna — Questions. - Anglo-Irish Summit.
I met the British Prime Minister on Friday, 9 October and have reported to the House on that meeting. I have also had unprecedented levels of telephone contacts with him. I expect to meet the Prime Minister on the occasion of the special Employment Summit on Friday morning and at the European Council meeting on 12 and 13 December.
Will the Taoiseach join me in expressing concern about the violent scenes that occurred in parts of Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours? Does he agree such activities are not conducive to assisting speedy movement in the talks towards an agreed settlement? Will he join me in urging all parties in the talks to concentrate their efforts in seeking compromise acceptable to all, rather than stating their demands in trenchant terms?
I will do so. Any acts of violence from whatever source are to be condemned at all times, as I have stated repeatedly. At this critical stage in the talks when the bilateral negotiations are going on, leading into the plenary session and many contacts between party leaders, we need goodwill, positive thinking, compromise and understanding of the arguments with a view to making substantive progress before Christmas. The talks will continue at different levels after Christmas but I hope in the crucial weeks ahead substantive progress can be made.
There has been public comment in the context of the Taoiseach's proposed meeting with the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party about what the Government is alleged to have put forward in regard to possible amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. What proposals has the Government made on this topic and are they similar to those indicated in the framework document?
The proposals in the public domain are the same as those that have been there for some years and are similar to those in the Framework Document. We have urged many times in the talks that other initiatives and ways be looked at. Everything is up for consideration and I would not rule out anything. I stated the Government would look at these issues, discuss them and enter into dialogue. Decisions have not been made and there have not been changes other than what was in the public domain prior to the Framework Document.
Is the Taoiseach willing to ensure the scope of an Anglo-Irish meeting goes beyond the very important matters of Northern Ireland and general EU matters and involves the totality of relationships to discuss issues such as Sella-field, which has occupied much of the time of the House recently?
Whenever there is time, such issues are raised regardless of whether it is a full Anglo-Irish meeting or a meeting with the Prime Minister. Whenever there are pressing issues, we try to discuss those as well.
When the Taoiseach meets the British Prime Minister will he stress the urgent need for a process of demilitarisation and a new policing service, especially in view of the case of Colin Duffy, which has been the background to disturbances in Lurgan and Armagh? Is he aware that Colin Duffy has been the subject of a campaign of victimisation by the RUC; was recently released after being held for a year on a trumped up charge which was then dropped; has been assaulted and harassed by the RUC on several occasions since his release; that on Sunday night last, he and his friends were set upon by members of the RUC in what his solicitor described as an episode of unprovoked violence on the way home from his daughter's christening party — I have copies of statements by witnesses with me — and this is the background to the unchanged attitude of the RUC against which the events of last evening must be seen? Given the questions asked and commentary in the House yesterday, will the Taoiseach confirm his view of Sinn Féin's full commitment to the peace process and his acceptance of its significant and ongoing efforts in the collective search for an agreed and peaceful settlement of the conflict?
I am aware of the events surrounding Mr. Duffy and ongoing events. I am not aware of all that the Deputy has stated but disturbances make life more difficult and we need to continue to focus on the talks. I said yesterday I was quite satisfied when Sinn Féin signed the Mitchell principles they were bound by them. Yesterday, we addressed some remarks that were made by a prominent Sinn Féin member over the weekend. I mentioned that I had seen the clarification on that and have since received further clarification on the issue.
I accept that Sinn Féin negotiators and members are working within the talks process to try to find a just, fair solution that will have compromises and that can lead us to having a new arrangement where we can work together on this island.
Will the Taoiseach make available to other Members the clarification he has received on the speech made by Mr. Francie Molloy in Cullyhanna? Has the Government, in the context of my earlier question, put forward any concrete proposals on the reform of policing given that it is a central issue in discussions and this is accepted by everybody? Will the Taoiseach raise with the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair some of the suggestions that have been made for joint work between both Governments in matters such as information technology in schools, food safety and various areas where bilateral co-operation could be helpful in an east-west and north-south way?
Depending on the time available some of those issues can be addressed but at official level they have been and continue to be progressed. I did not say I had received any written clarification, but the issue concerning Mr. Molloy was raised here yesterday and I said that in clarification he stated that if the negotiations leading to agreement collapsed they would return to dialogue and negotiations and would not fall back into conflict. I stated if people were talking about an armed conflict it was a worrying issue. I have since been told they are working towards an agreement through negotiations and not talking about going back to an armed struggle.
On the issue of policing, in the context of the strands and the papers put forward on all issues referred to, we have not put forward a position paper on it. However, I will raise the policing and security issue and the intensification of security in some parts of Northern Ireland when I meet the British Prime Minister.