John Bruton
Question:92 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of the reports he has received about the recent number of punishment beatings in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11349/00]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
I welcome this opportunity to reiterate where I and the Government stand on all acts of violence and intimidation, including punishment beatings, acts of intimidation and threats, and continuing sectarian attacks – we condemn them utterly and unequivocally. Such acts are totally unacceptable.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been reports of 25 republican and 41 loyalist punishment attacks.
Punishment beatings have been a part of the violence which has scarred Northern Ireland over the past 30 years. It is right that society expects such beatings to end immediately, just as we expect an end to the violent sectarian attacks which are also ongoing.
Ivor Callely
Question:96 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the view that there is no evidence available to indicate that the IRA cease-fire will not be maintained given that this issue is a very important aspect of the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13143/00]
I agree that there is no evidence to believe that the IRA ceasefire will not be maintained.
In its statement on 6 May, the IRA repeated that there is no threat to the peace process from it and it looked forward to a context in which political objectives can be pursued peacefully. 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. As a confidence building measure, the IRA agreed to the regular inspection by agreed third parties – who will report to the independent international commission on decommissioning – of a number of its arms dumps to confirm the security of its weapons. This process will now be taken forward by the commission, together with Mr. Maarti Ahtisaari and Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa who have agreed to head the inspections.