Vol. 521 No. 3
6 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 23 March 2000, he will give an up-to-date report on the progress and implementation of the recommendations of the Patten report on policing in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16391/00]
14 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Dublin on 30 May 2000. [16838/00]
35 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent statements by the Secretary of State, Mr. Mandelson, on possible changes to the Patten commission's proposals on the RUC. [12810/00]
80 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his communications since 7 June 2000 with representatives of political parties in Northern Ireland with regard to the issue of policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16492/00]
90 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the variance between the Patten report and the recently published Policing Bill; the known concerns of the Nationalists and republicans about the published Policing Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16395/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14, 35, 80 and 90 together.
The Good Friday Agreement provided the opportunity "for a new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland with a police service capable of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a whole". The Patten report comprehensively addressed the broad range of important and sensitive issues related to policing. The Government welcomed the report and said that the early and effective implementation of its recommendations would form an essential part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a whole.
In his statement on 19 January, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set out the British Government's position on the implementation of the Patten report. On 5 May 2000 the two Governments indicated the timetable planned for the implementation of the Patten report, including the passage of legislation by November 2000, with the appointment of the new policing board in January 2001 and the first process for recruits to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland to start in April 2001.
The publication of the Police Bill on 16 May represented another step on the way to implementing the Patten recommendations. At that time, I indicated that certain aspects of the Bill gave cause for concern as they carried the risk that the new service would not succeed in winning the level of cross-community support that will be necessary to create a new beginning. However, I also stated my firm belief that these difficulties could be resolved in the context of the legislative process. An implementation plan dealing with each of the recommendations of the report was published on 6 June.
In recent weeks, meetings have taken place at all levels, with the British Government and with the SDLP and Sinn Féin, on the legislative and other implications of full and faithful implementation of the Patten report. I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, on 31 May, and our discussions focused on the areas of concern in the Police Bill. A number of welcome changes were signalled by the Secretary of State on that occasion. The Secretary of State's contribution to the Second Stage debate on the Bill on 6 June also indicated a number of areas which would be amended. The implementation of the Patten report was also discussed at a meeting between the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, on 7 June. The Police Bill began Committee Stage at Westminster on Tuesday of this week, and a large number of amendments have been tabled by the SDLP and other parties represented on the committee.
The Government remains fully committed to the view that full and effective implementation of the Patten recommendations is the way in which the report's vision of a representative police service acceptable to both communities can be delivered.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive and detailed response. I very much welcome the fact he is looking forward to full and effective implementation of the Patten report in relation to the police Bill and to the developments in regard to Committee Stage of that Bill in Westminster this week. Is there a line of communication open to the Minister enabling him to keep in regular contact? In regard to issues of concern, is there any mechanism in place to ensure there will be some kind of rapport with those in authority who will be implementing the recommendations?
The focus of the very intense attention this matter is receiving from the Anglo-Irish division in my Department relates to the continuing discussions at all levels and ensuring that the legislative process in Westminster delivers a policing Act which will reflect full and effective implementation of the Patten report. As I indicated in my response in general terms, there have been some indications of improvement in the position in certain areas. Other outstanding areas remain to be dealt with and clearly we are in a position where ongoing consultation and discussion is taking place.
The Government broadly supports the SDLP amendments, which have been listed, as being consistent with a shared view with the Nationalist community generally of what is required to ensure that community encourages and supports the full implementation of the Patten recommendations, as enacted. That will involve participation on the police boards, etc., and a broad welcome and encouragement to the community at large to view policing as a career which would be acceptable in every community in Northern Ireland.
Following his meeting on 31 May with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, did the Minister get such assurance which would make him confident of the full implemen tation of the Patten report? Having had sight of the amendments sought on Committee Stage of the debate on the police Bill, is the Minister still confident that the Patten report can be implemented in full?
The meeting with the Secretary of State, Mr. Peter Mandelson, on 31 May in Dublin involved what was a very long and comprehensive agenda dealing specifically with this issue and one could certainly say there was constructive dialogue and that progress could be reported. Clearly, this is ongoing and we are continuing to discuss specific matters of continuing concern at this stage of the legislative process. The public position of both Governments is that they support full implementation of the Patten recommendations. Clearly, in the detail of the legislative process, we need to ensure that is reflected fully once the various stages of the legislation are finalised. One would expect Committee Stage to take place over the coming two to three weeks and we will then have Report Stage. The Bill will then have to go to the House of Lords.
During all of this process, dialogue is taking place on an ongoing basis to ensure we get this right. It would be a great shame and a major problem in terms of full implementation of the Agreement and proceeding as we all want to proceed and have so declared, if we were not to get this right and were to end up without the full support of the Nationalist parties. There is a need to recognise the requirement for full implementation and to recognise the sensitivities involved for others as well and to proceed on an open and constructive basis. I hope the progress we have been making can continue so that we get a successful conclusion to these deliberations.
Will the Minister say what contact he has had with political parties in Northern Ireland since 7 June on this matter? Does he anticipate that the name, RUC, will disappear entirely or will it remain in some format in the new legislation governing the police service in Northern Ireland?
As the Deputy will know, the present draft of the Bill refers to the Secretary of State having the ultimate discretion after consultation with the parties. During the Second Stage debate many views were expressed on that matter. Discussions continue to seek to find a solution which will ensure the full acceptance of the new policing dispensation among all members of the community.
There is a recognition in the Bill of the sacrifice RUC officers have made in the past as Patten recommended the need for such recognition. We are aware of the inclusion of the RUC George Cross foundation in the Bill and of the need to deal with widows and people who have suffered as a result of and who have been affected by the violence. These are all issues which are given legislative expression in the Bill. We need to see full implementation of the Patten report in all its respects and these are issues which are matters of continuing discussion.
I hope the matters raised in the House will assist in ensuring the full implementation of the report, in an inclusive manner. I very much welcome the fact the Minister wants to ensure he gets this right. We wish him and his Department well, especially the Anglo-Irish section, and we will monitor the progress.
The Minister did not answer the question I asked about the parties he has met in the past week in Northern Ireland.
Parties have been contacted at an official level but not by me personally.
