Gay Mitchell
Question:1 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. [12861/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Deputies will be aware of the highly significant developments that have taken place in recent days. The initiative taken by the two Governments, and the IRA's response, map out a clear way forward through which we can secure the restoration of the executive and the Assembly and the full implementation of Good Friday Agreement with clarity as to how all of the outstanding elements are to be dealt with.
In the period since the executive and the Assembly were suspended in February, the Government has been engaged in the most intensive discussions with the British Government and the pro-Agreement parties to bring about their earliest possible restoration. As a result of these discussions, on 5 May the two Governments issued a statement expressing their belief that the remaining steps necessary to secure full implementation of the Agreement can be achieved by June 2001. An account of these steps setting out the Governments' proposals and commitments in the areas of rights and equality, security, policing and justice and prisoners was circulated to the parties. The Governments stated that, subject to a positive response to their statement, the British Government will bring forward the necessary order to enable the Assembly and the executive to be restored by 22 May.
The Governments also called on paramilitary organisations to urgently state that they will put their weapons completely and verifiably beyond use. In a statement on 6 May, the IRA said it will resume contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. It also identified the context in which the IRA will completely and verifiably put its arms beyond use and said that its guns are silent and secure. In what has rightly been regarded as a highly significant and unprecedented confidence building measure, the IRA agreed to the regular inspection by agreed third parties, who will report to the de Chastelain commission, of a number of its arms dumps to confirm the security of its weapons. Furthermore, the IRA repeated that it does not pose any threat to the peace process and that it looked forward to a context in which political objectives can be pursued peacefully.
This statement has been widely welcomed as offering a commitment in explicit terms to put arms beyond use and as indicating the process by which this is to be achieved under the de Chastelain commission. It undoubtedly represents a significant and historic advance on the part of the republican movement and we hope that loyalist paramilitaries will respond in similar terms.
The parties are now studying the Governments' proposals. For our part, we stand ready to offer whatever clarification the parties consider helpful. In relation to the process of third party inspection of IRA arms dumps, we are most fortunate to have secured the agreement of former President of Finland, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, and former Secretary General of the ANC, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, to head the inspections and to report to the de Chastelain commission. Details of the inspection process will be worked out in the coming period.
Additional information.The House will be aware that on 9 May the Chief Constable announced a number of normalisation steps in initial response to the weekend's developments. These steps are welcome and it is important that progress be maintained on this issue on the basis set out in our statement.
The discussions in which we have been engaged have been difficult and complex. The issues are extremely sensitive and of great significance to both communities, but I firmly believe that we have succeeded in identifying a way forward in which all of the issues will be dealt with in a manner which meets the fundamental needs of all sides. I greatly hope it will be possible for all of the parties to respond positively so that we can move forward together, and so that the full potential and promise of the Agreement can be realised.
Having served in the Department of Foreign Affairs I am sure that there are very skilled civil servants who know how to time a reply to two minutes. I hope that we will have such replies in future.
I welcome the IRA's statement which is a signal development and I hope it contributes to removing the personal pressure on Gerry Adams and David Trimble. I also hope the statement helps to bring about a broader shouldering of that pressure. Would the Minister of State agree that this move by the IRA needs a realistic response from Unionists? I use the word "realistic" in a proper sense. Would she also agree that, in order to bring this about, David Trimble needs support and encouragement? What steps has the Government taken to provide that support and encouragement?
The Deputy has recognised, as has everyone, the significance and substance of the IRA's statement. This was a very significant development which should not be taken for granted by anyone.
As regards the Government's efforts to clear up other outstanding matters, all the parties are now considering the various proposals which are in the public domain and it is hoped that, over the coming days, progress can be made on some of these issues.
The Deputy referred to efforts to help Mr. Trimble in this and the issue of policing has been mentioned. Policing is such a complex and sensitive issue that the parties to the Agreement felt it best to set up an independent commission to make proposals for a police service which would be acceptable and representative of both communities. Chris Patten and his colleagues did an excellent job in coming forward with a very authoritative set of proposals which struck a balance between the requirements and aspirations of both communities. The Patten commission's recommendations on the various issues are clear, including those on the name of the police service and the badge.
The Taoiseach made it clear that every effort is being made to respond to outstanding issues which have been raised by the parties. This is a time for people to work together and to be moderate in everything they say in order to achieve consensus and agreement to move forward on the basis of the historic achievement which has, on the one hand, been achieved by the IRA's statement and, on the other hand, by the agreement of the British Government and the parties to re-establish the institutions.
I welcome and support the thrust of the Patten commission's proposals. When does the Minister of State expect the British Government to publish legislation on the Northern Ireland police service? Does she anticipate that it will propose to incorporate the title RUC in some way?
We expect the text of the Bill to be published imminently. Discussions as to the name of the future Northern Ireland police force are ongoing but I am not in a position to say any more as the Bill has not been published. Various proposals are being put forward and considered concerning certain aspects of the Bill. Suffice it to say that every effort is being made to reach some sort of accommodation which will meet the concerns of the parties.