Vol. 529 No. 1
94 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his most recent discussions with the political parties from Northern Ireland; and if he will give his assessment of the prospects for progress in view of these meetings. [2256/01]
As the Deputy will be aware, in the period both before and since Christmas, the two Governments and the pro-Agreement parties have been engaged in intensive efforts to reach an agreed basis on which we can ensure the inclusive operation of the institutions and the full implementation of outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Throughout, I have remained in close contact with the parties and with former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson. In my statement on Mr. Mandelson's resignation, I paid tribute to his significant personal contribution to the peace process and I would like to avail of this opportunity to repeat my best wishes for the future. I have spoken to his successor, Dr. John Reid, on the telephone, and I look forward to meeting him in the very near future. The Taoiseach has also been very actively engaged together with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair. They will meet tomorrow to review the situation.
Our discussions have enabled us to make genuine progress and we now have a greater understanding of where each of the parties stands. We are, nonetheless, at a most delicate stage and I do not think that Deputies would expect me to go into detail on matters which are the subject of the most sensitive of negotiations. However, the issues with which we are dealing are well known. Broadly, these include: ensuring the successful operation of the institutions, including the North/South Ministerial Council, on a fully inclusive basis; continued progress on demilitarisation and putting arms permanently beyond use; and an outcome on policing which will ensure the necessary cross-community support for the new service.
In the past year we have seen the tangible improvements that the institutions under the Agreement have begun to make in the lives of the people they serve. The benefits we all stand to gain if we can resolve our difficulties now are obvious. All the parties want to reach a successful outcome. All are working in good faith to bring it about.
It is my firm belief that, if all continue to approach our discussions with a positive and constructive attitude, we will succeed in finding a way forward.
