Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

John Bruton

Question:

162 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the written or oral communications, if any, he has had with the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms. Mo Mowlam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20337/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

On the reassignment last month of the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr. Mowlam, to her current position as Minister for the Cabinet Office, I wrote privately to her conveying my best wishes for her future success and expressing sincerest appreciation for the remarkable contribution made by her as Secretary of State. I issued a public statement on Monday 11 October, the relevant extract from which follows:

Mo Mowlam has been a most wonderful colleague and friend and she takes with her our deepest gratitude for the extraordinary dedication with which she filled the post of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Her tenure covered a period that saw developments and progress of a truly historic character in Northern Ireland, developments for which Mo herself can rightly take real pride and a large measure of credit. In particular, the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and its endorsement by the people last year will stand as an enduring monument to her term of office.

Mo Mowlam brought to the role of Secretary of State a distinctive mix of skills that were extremely suited to the needs of the time – a deep humanity, an extraordinary empathy with people at all levels, personal courage and determination of the highest order, and an unquenchable belief in the power of politics to change people's lives for the better.

It was a great honour to have had her as a colleague and personal friend during this momentous time, a time when the level of co-operation between the British and Irish Governments was brought to unprecedented levels, for the benefit of all our people. We worked together closely on all issues, but most particularly on the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement. Mo Mowlam can leave Northern Ireland in the knowledge that she has made a profound contribution to the building of a new future, a future based on the qualities at the heart of the Agreement itself, namely partnership, equality and mutual respect.

We send Mo our warmest good wishes in her new position, to which we know she will bring the same dedication, skill and commitment.