Gay Mitchell
Question:1 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the Northern Ireland peace process. [12555/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Priority Questions. - Northern Ireland Peace Process.
Dick Spring
Question:2 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the post referendum situation in relation to Northern Ireland and the timetable for the setting up of the Assembly and cross-Border bodies. [12556/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The endorsement of the British-Irish Agreement by the people of Ireland marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the island. It offers a future based on the acceptance of diversity and on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and partnership.
The fact that the Agreement won the backing of 85 per cent of those voting on the island, including large majorities North and South, indicates a widespread willingness on the part of the people to set aside the bitter legacies of the past and seek to resolve their differences on political issues by democratic and exclusively peaceful means.
The massive "yes" vote in the South and the extraordinary turnout and strong support for the Agreement from both sides of the community in the North showed how deeply people desire lasting peace and political agreement. It is now incumbent on all those who opposed the Agreement to respect the democratic verdict of the people and to work effectively the institutions which derive from it.
Now that the referendums have taken place, the priority is to move ahead with the implementation of the Agreement. This must be carried forward in a balanced and comprehensive manner. The Agreement is a package and must be implemented in its totality.
A significant stage in the implementation process will be the holding of elections to the new 108 seat Northern Ireland assembly on 25 June. Following these elections the assembly, the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council will be established in transitional form pending the formal entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement. This, we expect, will take place in early 1999. In the intervening period, the shadow assembly will meet to organise itself, including to resolve its standing orders and working practices, elect the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and allocate up to ten ministerial posts.
Representatives of the Northern Ireland transitional administration and the Government, operating in the shadow North-South Ministerial Council, will meet to undertake a work programme to identify and agree by 31 October at least six areas in which Implementation bodies are to be established and at least six areas where co-operation will take place separately through existing bodies. It will then fall to the two Governments to complete all necessary legislative and other arrangements to enable the implementation bodies to be established on the entry into force of the Agreement.
For our part, the Government has established an interdepartmental steering group of senior officials, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to co-ordinate and actively move forward the implementation of all aspects of the Agreement.
What does the Minister believe non-governmental groups and organisation can do to assist the peace process? I have in mind organisations such as the Orange Order and the GAA. Will the Minister join me in urging the GAA to continue to pursue the objective of changing rule 21 which the organisation will be considering over the coming weekend as a gesture which would be well received throughout the island?
In the context of the marching season what steps has the Minister taken and what steps are being taken on both sides of the community in Northern Ireland to try to resolve the Drumcree marching issue? There is serious conflict in that area on an annual basis. If there is to be true reconciliation between the communities some way of reconciling these conflicts must be found.
When does the Minister anticipate the introduction of legislation to give effect to cross-Border bodies?
I am grateful to the Deputy for his three supplementary questions concerning the Orange Order, the GAA and rule 21, the marching season and cross-Border bodies.
The Deputy is aware that the GAA will meet shortly to consider rule 21. This is a matter for the GAA, but in light of the peace process and the atmosphere which exists on the island I think it will give serious deliberation to the possibility of deleting that item from its rules. However, it is a matter for the GAA. Personally, I think removal of the rule would be helpful.
Regarding the Orange Order, the peace process cannot be left solely to the politicians. All elements of society, including the Orange Order, must contribute to it. I strongly urge the order to contemplate the continuing peace process and its participation in it in the interests of what everybody on the island seeks, namely, permanent peace and stability.
Regarding the marching season, the Deputy is aware that the Parades Commission announced its determination on six parades, including the banning of parades along the Lower Ormeau Road by the Apprentice Boys on Easter Monday, 13 April 1998 and by the Ballynafeigh District Orange Order on Sunday, 23 April and the rerouting of the contentious parade by the Dunloy Apprentice Boys on 17 May. In a very helpful gesture it was also announced on 25 May that loyalist protests outside the Church of Our Lady in Harryville, County Antrim, had ended. The Taoiseach and I met the Garvaghy residents' association and the Ormeau Concerned Citizens yesterday and had a long and detailed discussion with them. The Government will continue to use its best endeavours in co-operation with the British Government to bring about a resolution of this issue. The Parades Commission has its duty to carry out and we hope it will make the right decisions in the interests of the communities which these parades offend.
What about legislation on cross-Border bodies?
I can outline a timetable which might be helpful to the Deputy. On 25 June, 1998, elections will be held to the Assembly and in early July the Assembly is due to begin meeting in shadow form to elect the presiding officer, Shadow First Minister and Deputy First Minister. It will appoint the Shadow Executive during the transitional period and determine its standing orders, committee structure, location and so forth.
In September there will be inaugural meetings of the Shadow North-South Ministerial Council and the Shadow British-Irish Council. The deadline for the agreement of the Shadow North-South Ministerial Council on at least six areas in which implementation bodies are to be established is 31 October. At the end of 1998 and in early 1999 the two Governments are to enact legislation and take the other steps necessary to establish implementation bodies. In February 1999, the Governments are to exchange letters notifying each other that all necessary legislation has been enacted. The British-Irish Agreement then enters into force and the North-South Ministerial Council, the implementation bodies, the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will be formally established. Full powers will be devolved to the Assembly. The Government will then make a declaration which will trigger the amendment of Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
That is the proposed timetable. There is "many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip' but that is the timetable everybody should work to achieve. As far as this Government is concerned, it is a timetable to which we hope to adhere.
I thank the Minister for outlining the timetable. It is extremely useful. A great deal of work must be done by all sides and let us hope everybody approaches the work schedule with an open mind and in a constructive manner.
I wish to raise two matters. The first relates to rule 21 and the decision that is due to be made by the Gaelic Athletic Association in the next few days. The Taoiseach was actively involved with the President of the GAA some weeks ago and the Minister will be aware that there is substantial reaction in Nationalist circles in Northern Ireland to the proposal before the council. Does either the Minister or the Taoiseach intend to make the Government's view on this matter clear? It is primarily a matter for the GAA, but it is necessary to give leadership with regard to the removal of rule 21 at this time. If this time is not considered suitable, the rule will never be removed. The Government should convey a strong message on this issue before the deliberations of the ruling council of the GAA take place.
Will the Minister respond to the remarks made by Mr. Adams in the United States yesterday with regard to Sinn Féin's attitude to decommissioning and its rejection of the principles of consent in self-determination as agreed in the talks? Does the Government intend to clarify those matters from its point of view?
Will there be a role for the secretariat in Maryfield or will it be closed down?
I will deal with the last matter first because I was very much concerned with it during the talks. The closure of Maryfield is part of the Agreement. There is another question, however, which is where the secretariat will be located. That is part of the ongoing discussions.
Tralee.
As the Deputy wishes. We will do our best.
With regard to rule 21, I agree it is a matter for the Gaelic Athletic Association which has made an enormous contribution to this country over the years and is part of the fabric of our society. There are many intelligent men and women in that organisation who can adjudicate on rule 21 as they see fit. I accept the Deputy's point about leadership but I doubt that there is a role for the Government to point the finger at the GAA and tell it to change its rules. Its members are good, concerned people and I believe they will make the right decision.
Deputy Mitchell and I agree that rule 21 should be changed but in a liberal and pluralist society the Government should not instruct any organisation——
I did not suggest the Government should instruct, but should give leadership.
That is what I mean. In the context of leadership, there is no other way to lead except to let the organisation make its own decision.
Ultimately, it will.
The Deputy also asked about the remarks by Mr. Adams. Last Friday the people, North and South, at the ballot box expressed their overwhelming support for the Agreement. It is clear the people accept that their right of self-determination can and should be exercised as set out in the Agreement, which is on the basis of consent. Their verdict is the only one that counts.
While it is understandable that parties should highlight those aspects of the Agreement which are particularly attractive to them and play down the others, the reality is that every part of it must be implemented without addition or subtraction. It is unrealistic to suggest that any other course of action is feasible. It is important that all parties which support the Agreement, including Sinn Féin, should work its institutions in good faith while honouring their commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. I expect and believe that the "yes" parties will act in good faith in this matter.
I understand the constituencies for elections to the Assembly will be six seaters——
There are 108 altogether.
Sounds like a great idea.
A wonderful idea for Members who are running again.
The quota will therefore be 14.4 per cent, a perfect quota. One could get elected quite easily with 8 or 9 per cent of the vote with transfers, perhaps even less. Would the Minister consider it helpful for constitutional Nationalist parties in the North to advise the electorate to continue their preferences to Unionist or other parties which will participate in the process and not for wreckers? Would he consider that helpful?
The Government is reviewing the situation and a review committee is beginning to work on it. My view with regard to the Assembly elections is that, unless we are asked for assistance, politicians in the South should take a vow of silence.
Such a course would be helpful in the election process and in what we are seeking to achieve. As I am aware from my experience, words can cause difficulties, as Deputy Spring is aware. I have no problem about that matter and when or if I write my diaries I will explain what I meant and what I should have done afterwards. However, sin ceist eile. The least said, the soonest mended.
I agree with the Minister. We do not have a role in this, it is a matter for the politicians in Northern Ireland.
Earlier, I referred to the remarks made by the President of Sinn Féin in the United States yesterday. Effectively, he said that Sinn Féin does not accept the principles of consent in self-determination as established in the Agreement. I will be most concerned if there is not a strong message from the Government to Sinn Féin in this regard. A total of 95 per cent of the people in the Republic supported the Agreement as did 71 per cent of the people in Northern Ireland. It is one matter to be selective about parts of the Agreement one likes and dislikes — there were hard decisions for everybody — but we are trying to ensure that violence is removed from politics in this island. The sooner we get clarification that there is non-violent support for the Agreement, the better. In that respect we must heed what was said by Mr. Adams and a strong message will go out to him very quickly.
I support the Deputy's views about the remarks made by Mr. Adams in America. The Agreement is there for all to see. It was negotiated over a long period and involved many participants. It is set out in clear language and must be taken in its entirety. The principle of consent means exactly what it should mean and there is no resigning on it. The question of decommissioning and prisoners is written large in the Agreement and one cannot nit-pick or misinterpret. Those who misinterpret do so at their peril and at the peril of what we all seek to achieve.