Vol. 529 No. 1
83 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any discussions with the new US Administration in relation to Irish affairs; and if the White House, through the National Security Council, will remain actively engaged with the peace process. [2150/01]
The Government has had early contact both with the new Administration and with Congress and I look forward to meeting my US colleagues to brief them on developments in the peace process and other issues of mutual interest within the next few weeks. Arrangements are currently being put in place through the Irish Embassy in Washington, which has been in ongoing contact with the new Administration.
The Government has always appreciated the bipartisan nature of the support for Irish issues in the United States from successive US Presidents and Congress, and we look forward to this continuing in the spirit of co-operation, friendship and support that has characterised relations between us in the past.
Throughout his election campaign and again in recent weeks, President Bush has made clear his support for the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, including in correspondence with the Taoiseach. We very much welcome and value this expression of support and commitment at the highest level of the new administration and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the US.
The Government appreciates the extraordinary commitment and support of the US Administration – in the White House, in the Congress and from both the Republican and Democratic parties, throughout the peace process. It has been vital in helping us to achieve so much to date and I look forward to this very positive and rewarding relationship continuing, as we continue the work of implementing the Good Friday Agreement.
I am interested to know if the White House will continue its role in the peace process, a role which had been so helpful under the Clinton Administration. Has any decision been made in this regard? Am I correct in thinking that this issue is still undecided and, if so, what steps does the Minister and the Government propose to take to try to ensure continued interest by the White House in Irish affairs and, in particular, in the peace process?
The change of administration does not reflect any change of policy in the United States in relation to Northern Ireland or the peace process. The substance of the position is very much the same. The Republican platform when it outlined its manifesto to the US electorate had a very strong position on the Irish question and one which has been confirmed by the President in correspondence with the Taoiseach since his election. In response to a question from Senator Dodd at his hearing for the position of Secretary of State some weeks ago, Secretary of State Colin Powell agreed that the new Administration would see value in offering their good offices, where appropriate, to assist in achieving the goals in the Good Friday Agreement. The Secretary of State has just taken up office and I look forward to having an opportunity to discuss this and other issues with him at an early date. We should be emphasising the continuity of policy – the substance of the policy remains as before – and a full commitment by the President and his Administration to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
While I accept we can expect the substance of the policy to remain the same, will the Minister agree that in the past, before the Clinton Administration, when Irish affairs were handled by the State Department as opposed to the White House there was not the same understanding of the Irish position? Will he accept it is in our interest to have a continued interest on the part of the White House – which was established by President Clinton through the National Security Council? Will he agree we should try to lobby to ensure that? Has the new Administration given any indication if former President Clinton will be given a role of any kind in the peace process, be it as a peace envoy or otherwise?
It is important to point out that it is not for the Government to tell any Administration how it wishes to have its policies implemented. We will continue to work with the National Security Council, the National Security Adviser, Ms Rice, and with the Secretary of State, Mr. Powell, as we did with Mr. Berger and Mrs. Albright. In the briefings and discussions I have held with the National Security Council and the State Department there is a consistency of approach by the Administration.
It must be recognised that the personal commitment of the outgoing President was invaluable. Every incumbent of the office of the President brings his own style. The substantive point is that the new Administration will continue with the policies of support and encouragement, which was the hallmark of the previous Administration, and that the State Department and the National Security Council recognises that the Good Friday Agreement represents a political consensus never before achieved between the British and Irish Governments and the parties within Northern Ireland, recognising as it does the relationships which must be addressed against a settled constitutional background, for the first time since partition.
In view of the response to the question raised by Senator Dodd, we have every reason to believe that the Secretary of State Mr. Powell recognises the value of the existing policy, that he will continue to support it and that he would see value in offering his good offices and the good offices of his Administration, where appropriate, to assist in achieving the goals contained in the Good Friday Agreement. This is what the Government would hope for and we will now build on the relationships, built up over many years, with those offices of Government. We have no reason but to continue with what has been an excellent relationship.
