Conor Lenihan
Question:124 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if paramilitary decommissioning of weapons is a pre-condition for participation in the executive envisaged by the British-Irish Agreement. [27590/98]
Vol. 498 No. 4
124 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if paramilitary decommissioning of weapons is a pre-condition for participation in the executive envisaged by the British-Irish Agreement. [27590/98]
126 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that under the terms of the British-Irish Agreement proposed paramilitary decommissioning of weapons is envisaged to be a voluntary rather than a mandatory process. [27592/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 126 together.
125 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the method of evaluation to be used by the Government to assess whether the British-Irish Agreement has been implemented in order to effect change to the Republic's Constitution. [27591/98]
127 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that, under the terms of the referendum on the British-Irish Agreement, changes in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution will not occur unless the agreement has been implemented by all parties involved. [27593/98]
128 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is still the position that changes in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution will not happen without the proposed North-South structures being in place beforehand. [27594/98]
129 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that the proposed changes in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution will not be implemented until every aspect of the British-Irish Agreement has been implemented. [27595/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 127, 128, and 129 together.
The British-Irish Agreement provides that immediately on entry into force of this Agreement, the Government shall ensure that the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 take effect. The British-Irish Agreement itself can only come intoforce when all the necessary legislation has been enacted to establish: (i) a North-South Ministerial Council; (ii) the North-South implementation bodies; (iii) a British-Irish Council; and (iv) a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.