Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
16
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will make a statement on his participation in the inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 17 December 1999; the decisions, if any, reached or actions, if any, agreed; when the next meeting of the Conference is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1336/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
17
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
when he last met representatives of Sinn Féin; his assessment of the prospects for progress on the decommissioning issue on the basis of his contacts with Sinn Féin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1338/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
18
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
the plans, if any, he has to visit the United States in the period around St. Patrick's Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1343/00]
John Gormley
Question:
19
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Taoiseach
the situation in relation to the Northern Ireland peace process.
[1439/00]
John Bruton
Question:
20
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will report on his meetings with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, at the EU Heads of Government meeting in Helsinki on 10 and 11 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1465/00]
John Bruton
Question:
21
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will report on his visit to London on 17 December 1999 and his attendance at the British-Irish Council and Intergovernmental Conference meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1466/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
22
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will make a statement on his meeting in Dublin on 20 January 2000 with the Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr. David Trimble.
[1602/00]
John Bruton
Question:
23
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will make a statement on his recent meeting in Dublin with the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Trimble.
[1695/00]
John Bruton
Question:
24
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
the recent communications, if any, he has had with the leadership of Sinn Féin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1699/00]
John Bruton
Question:
25
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
the recent communication, if any, he has had with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1700/00]
John Bruton
Question:
26
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
the plans, if any, he has to visit Northern Ireland.
[1706/00]
John Bruton
Question:
27
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
his assessment of progress in implementing the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1708/00]
John Bruton
Question:
28
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
if he will make a statement on his contacts with the political parties in Northern Ireland since 15 December 1999.
[1709/00]
John Bruton
Question:
29
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Taoiseach
the plans, if any, he has to visit the United States of America for St. Patrick's Day in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1711/00]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:
30
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
asked the
Taoiseach
the contacts, if any, he has had with the British Prime Minister since the adjournment of the Dáil on 16 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1725/00]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:
31
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
asked the
Taoiseach
the contacts, if any, he has had with the First Minister, Mr. David Trimble, since the adjournment of the Dáil on 16 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1726/00]
Joe Higgins
Question:
32
Mr. Higgins (Dublin West)
asked the
Taoiseach
the contacts, if any, he has had with parties in Northern Ireland since 16 December 1999.
[1735/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 32, inclusive, together.
I attended the inaugural summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in London on Friday, 17 December last. I was accompanied by my colleagues, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Prime Minister and I welcomed the establishment of the British-Irish Council which will enhance the excellent working relationship that our two Governments have long enjoyed. The council is particularly relevant in the context of the extensive devolution which has taken place in the UK and will allow us develop stronger links with the recently devolved administrations in Cardiff and Edinburgh. I am circulating with my reply to the Deputies the communiqué which issued after the meeting.
At the meeting we agreed a number of issues for early consideration by the council, including drugs, social inclusion, the environment, transport and the knowledge economy. These are issues of particular importance and concern and I look forward to the benefits that this kind of co-operation will bring. We also agreed an indicative list of other issues which would be appropriate to the council's work.
On the same day, I attended the inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in 10 Downing Street. The same Ministers who attended the BIC accompanied me.
The conference will play an important role in promoting bilateral co-operation across the totality of relationships but with a strong focus on non-devolved Northern Ireland matters. At the meeting we agreed a programme of work around two initial lists of issues which are set out in a communiqué that I am circulating with my reply to the Deputies.
Regarding my recent meeting with the British Prime Minister in Helsinki, I would refer Deputies to my statement to this House on 15 December.
I am delighted that we have now achieved the implementation of the institutional aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. The new executive in Northern Ireland is a significant achievement and the North-South Ministerial Council an important milestone in our island's history, but there are still many challenges ahead as we seek to give full effect to the Good Friday Agreement.
In this context, I welcomed the statement made last week in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, on the implementation of the Patten report. The Government has always maintained that early and effective implementation of the report's recommendations would form an essential aspect of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a whole. In this regard, it is very encouraging that the British Government has accepted and is to act on the great majority of the proposals.
I recognise that there are those who have difficulties with some of the changes being proposed, but what we have now is a unique opportunity for a new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland. The measures announced by the Secretary of State last week when completed satisfactorily through legislation will ensure that there will be a police service which is capable of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a whole and I would hope that Nationalists will then apply in great numbers to join the new Police Service of Northern Ireland. I look forward to seeing a detailed implementation plan emerge over the coming weeks and early publication of the necessary legislation, which must be fully in line with the thrust and spirit of the Patten recommendations.
Similarly, I look forward to the publication shortly of the next report of the International Commission on Decommissioning. Decommissioning is an essential component of the Good Friday Agreement and it is clearly necessary that the international commission be in a position to report progress on the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement, as envisaged in the outcome of the Mitchell review.
I continue to maintain contact with the British Prime Minister and parties in Northern Ireland and last Thursday, 20 January, I met with the First Minister, Mr. David Trimble. We had a use ful discussion on matters relating to the Patten report and decommissioning.
There are no current plans for me to visit Northern Ireland.
Although plans are at a tentative stage, I can confirm that I will be visiting Australia and the United States in the week around St. Patrick's Day this year. My Department is at present engaged in advancing the necessary arrangements and in putting together an itinerary for the visits in close association with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the embassies concerned.
With regard to progress in implementing the Agreement, I am circulating with my reply to the Deputies a communiqué issued on Monday, following the first meeting of the NSMC in sectoral format, dealing with the Trade and Business Development Body. In addition, meetings in the following sectoral formats are envisaged over the next three and a half weeks: education, health, the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and special EU programmes. A schedule of further sectoral ministerial council meetings is being prepared and it is expected that a first Council meeting in all the sectoral formats agreed to date will have taken place by March, and that they would meet quarterly thereafter. A first meeting of the Council in institutional format is envisaged for March.
There is a momentum in the implementation of the Agreement which we all want to see sustained across all aspects of the Agreement, in line with the wishes of the people. It is important to maintain this momentum and it is for all participants in the Agreement to ensure this.
