Ruairí Quinn
Question:1 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his visit to Rome. [5559/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Official Engagements.
Michael Noonan
Question:2 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Italy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5665/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:3 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his attendance in Rome at the elevation to cardinal of Archbishop Desmond Connell. [5672/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.
I was pleased and honoured to accept Archbishop Connell's invitation and to head an official delegation attending the consistory in Rome on his appointment as cardinal. The delegation included my colleague, the Minister of State to the Government and at the Department of Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, the Secretary General to the Government, Mr. Dermot McCarthy, the Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Eamon O'Tuathail, and my Aide de Camp, Captain Gerard O'Grady.
On the morning of 21 February I attended the consistory in St. Peter's Square for the creation of the 44 new cardinals followed by lunch hosted by the rector, Monsignor John Fleming, in honour of Cardinal Connell at the Pontifical Irish College. That afternoon I made courtesy calls on the newly elevated Cardinal Murphy O'Connor of London, Cardinal Egan of New York and Cardinal McCarrick of Newark.
The same evening I hosted a reception at Villa Spada, Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See in honour of Cardinal Connell. Guests included Cardinal Connell's family, Cardinal Daly and Archbishop Brady. I take this opportunity to put on record my deep appreciation to the Vatican for the courtesies extended to me and the other members of the delegation while there. It is a singular honour for Ireland and in particular, Dublin, to have our own cardinal after more than 115 years.
How would the Taoiseach characterise relationships between the Government and the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the heads of other Christian and religious denominations in the State?
They are excellent in terms of all the churches. I have regular meetings with them, as I am sure do other politicians, and have very good relations with them. In recent years I have had contact with Cardinal Daly, who takes a keen interest in Northern matters, and Archbishop Brady who is always extremely helpful. They are very courteous. I also have contacts, though not a great many, on other matters, and the same goes for the other churches which regularly call, particularly when there are new appointments. It can honestly be said that relations are good.
In the course of his visit to Rome did the Taoiseach hold any bilateral meetings with members of the Italian Government or did he avail of the opportunity to meet Fianna Fáil's political allies in the European Parliament, the Italian neo-fascist Alleanza Nazionale?
No.
He met them all.
Silence is golden.
I said "No".
Michael Noonan
Question:4 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the British Government and the Northern parties in relation to the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5666/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:5 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his contacts with the political parties in Northern Ireland. [5674/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:6 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the outcome of his meeting with a delegation from the SDLP on 22 February 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6021/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:7 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the outcome of his meeting with a delegation from Sinn Féin on 22 February 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6022/01]
Austin Currie
Question:8 Mr. Currie asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent contacts with the British Prime Minister and Northern political leaders on the situation in Northern Ireland. [6113/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:9 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his address to the National Assembly for Wales and his meeting with Welsh political leaders. [6597/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:10 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the outcome of his meeting on 28 February 2001 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and if he will give his assessment of the prospects for political development in Northern Ireland. [6598/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:11 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the proposed agenda for his planned meeting on 15 March 2001 with President Bush; the other official engagements he will undertake during his visit to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6600/01]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:12 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting on 28 February 2001 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair. [6667/01]
Trevor Sargent
Question:13 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the British Government and the Northern Ireland political parties regarding the peace process. [6699/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:14 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions and meetings with the British Government and the Northern parties in relation to the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6720/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:15 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his address to the Welsh Assembly. [6818/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:16 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair. [6819/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:17 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach the plans he has for his visit to the United States around St. Patrick's Day. [6820/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:18 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting in London with the British Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6935/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:19 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Wales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6936/01]
Austin Currie
Question:20 Mr. Currie asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meetings with the British Prime Minister and other political leaders on the position in Northern Ireland. [6937/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 20, inclusive, together.
I addressed the National Assembly in Wales on 1 March, the day dedicated to the patron saint of Wales, St. David, and was very warmly received. My address focused on the historic and cultural links between Ireland and Wales and the opportunities now emerging to significantly enhance our friendship and relationship in the context of devolution and the institutional arrangements of the Good Friday Agreement.
During my visit, I also met the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales, Mr. Rhodri Morgan, and the Secretary of State for Wales, Mr. Paul Murphy, and gave a keynote speech at a forum on "Wales, Europe and the World", sponsored by the First Minister. Copies of both my speeches have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Unfortunately, I was forced to cut short my visit to Wales, cancelling a number of social engagements due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Nevertheless, the visit was successful and it was greatly appreciated by our Welsh hosts that I fulfilled the main planned engagements. In the light of the discussions during my visit, I look forward to a significant strengthening of relations between Ireland and Wales.
Intensive contacts between the pro-Agreement parties and both Governments have continued over recent weeks in an effort to overcome the current difficulties. On 22 February I met the UUP, the SDLP and Sinn Féin in Government Buildings for a series of meetings. On Wednesday last I met the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, in Downing Street.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, also met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr. John Reid, and last week had a series of meetings in Washington, including with US Vice-President, Mr. Dick Cheney, Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, and National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, to review progress.
We hope we can find a way of overcoming the current difficulties and we will continue to do everything we can over the coming period to achieve a positive outcome.
I take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms the weekend bombing in London. Those responsible have absolutely no regard for the expressed will of the people of Ireland, North and South, and have nothing to offer except misery and grief. Such attacks are totally counter-productive and only serve to increase our determination to secure a lasting peace.
The programme for my visit to the United States for the St. Patrick's Day period has not yet been fully finalised. However, on current plans I will arrive in Washington on 15 March. While in Washington, I will attend a lunch hosted by Speaker Hastert on Capitol Hill, which I understand will be attended by President Bush. I will also attend an America-Ireland Fund dinner and meet the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Committee. It is hoped the Shamrock Ceremony will take place in the White House and that will entail a private meeting with the President.
I look forward to meeting President Bush and members of his Administration in the course of my visit and to my discussions with them and other senior political figures.
Will the Taoiseach give information on the possibility of the British Prime Minister being in Northern Ireland later this week, and the event clashing with a proposed trip planned by the Taoiseach to Japan? Will the Taoiseach reflect on this and tell us the arrangements?
The position is still fluid to say the least. We have said to the parties in the North, and it has been agreed between the two Governments for some considerable time, that the current discussions cannot go on indefinitely and there is pressure on all sides to reach an agreement. We all recognise that the long-term future and stability of the Agreement may be at stake. The pro-Agreement parties want to overcome the difficulties which pose a threat to it and that is what we have been trying to do for the last seven weeks. Policing is an important part of the discussions but it is not the only issue. It is also vital that we address decommissioning and demilitarisation as well as the stability of the institutions. We cannot be deflected from that in the discussions and we hope to be in touch with the other parties in coming days.
There are meetings today among those other parties to enable them to reach primary positions. My four negotiating officials have been in the United Kingdom since yesterday and had discussions in Downing Street into the early hours of this morning and again today. They will proceed from there around now to Belfast for more discussions with the parties, some of which are meeting themselves tonight, so it will be tomorrow before we can make any call about this. Needless to say, the other parties would like to make that call and if that involves round table talks I will have to be there but we will have to wait and see.
Does the Government have a policy on the current RUC recruitment campaign? Is it the Government's view that it is inappropriate to proceed with this recruitment campaign in advance of agreement on policing in Northern Ireland?
The Government would like to have had all these issues tied down in advance. That would have been preferable but that said, I understand the difficulties of the RUC Chief Constable who must try to implement most of the Patten reforms within his organisation. It is sometimes forgotten that most of the Patten reforms are good policing matters and that there are no differences about them. The vast majority of them are agreed and the Chief Constable saw fit to go ahead with this. It was not with our agreement, which he did not need, but it was not the way we would have done things. That said, we have not made a big issue of it either. The crucial period will come in the autumn when recruitment and a new training programme take place. There will be considerable difficulties at that stage if the policing issue is not resolved. Dilemmas may be caused for many people then and I have made that clear to all sides. I say this based on the discussions I have had with everyone and on their considered views on the matter. I understand why they have gone ahead with recruitment and why application forms have been sent out to all sides of the community, but reaching the bottom line will be another issue. What is done is done but the crucial period will come in the autumn as policing will have to be tied down at that stage. Otherwise the situation will be very difficult for everyone.
(Dublin West): One effect of the Taoiseach taking a wide range of questions is that it is hard to get coherence at Question Time. I wish to raise a different matter.
When the Taoiseach visits the United States will he break with the usual obsequious position adopted by Irish Governments towards Washington and raise with President Bush his condemnation of the continued bombing of Iraq by Britain and the United States? Will he raise the question of the economic sanctions against Iraq and point out to President Bush that it is not the Saddam Hussein dictatorship which is suffering as a result of these sanctions but the millions of innocent men, women and children of the Iraqi population who are suffering appallingly in terms of a breakdown of the health care system and infrastructure because no materials, spare parts or medicines can be brought into the country? Will he ask President Bush to stop the sanctions regime and to reverse a situation which has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi people, particularly children? Finally, will the Taoiseach call on President Bush, in the course of his visit, to end the collective punishment against an innocent population caused by a dispute between regimes and governments?
Irish Government representatives at these occasions have never been slow to raise issues of contention in a civilised and calm way. I have done so myself over a number of years, as have my predecessors. We discussed the issue of sanctions with former President Clinton on a number of occasions in the last few years. The issue will be brought forward again. The Minister, Deputy Cowen, raised it last week with all the people he met, including Vice-President Cheney and Ms Rice, and made the Irish view clear. We are also taking a forward position in the Security Council on the sanctions issue.
Two issues arise from the Deputy's remarks. On the one hand, Saddam Hussein maintains deaf ears to what the rest of the world says about weapons of mass destruction, weapons that affect his own people as well as others. On the other hand, it is true that ordinary citizens, as always, bear the brunt of war and make all the sacrifices, rather than Saddam Hussein. Both issues are important and we will take the opportunity to raise them again. With regard to the bombing, the Minister, Deputy Cowen, last week raised the rationale for these events. As always in these meetings, the American side is put and we have a chance to give our views.
I have a number of questions for the Taoiseach since he replied to 16 questions together. With regard to his visit to Wales, is the Taoiseach satisfied that the numerical composition of the assembly representation in the British and Irish Inter-Parliamentary Group, as it is now known, is satisfactory, having regard to the numbers that come from Westminster, Leinster House and the other assemblies? Does the numerical composition reflect what was envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement? I read the Taoiseach's speech to the Welsh Assembly. Does he believe he gave good example by going to Wales last week when the Government was asking everybody not to visit there unless it was essential?
I have two questions regarding Prime Minister Blair. Did the Taoiseach, when he met the Prime Minister on Wednesday last week, raise with him the concerns of this Administration about the apparent laxity with which British authorities are dealing with the foot and mouth outbreak, having regard to the widespread epidemic nature of its occurrence on the island of Britain? If so, what was his response? Second, the Taoiseach might recall that on Question Time last Wednesday, we spoke about the possibility of the British Government giving an indication that it would be willing to give a commitment to hold substantial inquiries into the murders of Pat Finucane, Mr. Hamill and Rosemary Nelson and that such a commitment might, in the context of making progress on these matters, lead to a resolution of the impasse on policing. Will the Taoiseach indicate if he raised that matter with the Prime Minister and, if so, what was the Prime Minister's response?
Finally, will the Taoiseach confirm something I understood him to indicate to Deputy Noonan? Did he say that if progress was made later this week which would result in round table talks taking place he would attend them and defer his visit to Japan?
The interparliamentary tier is an issue which must be kept under review. With the exception of the Ulster Unionist Party I am satisfied that things are up and running. One of the difficulties is the small number of members in the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales. There are 60 members in Wales who have difficulties and commitments but who wish to play a useful role. A number of members of the Welsh Assembly are Irish born or are of Irish parentage, most of whom wish to play an active role and did so at the meeting in Killarney last week. We have to keep this issue under review to ensure the system works well. However, so far so good and the Welsh and Scottish representatives were happy to be in Killarney.
I was right to go to Wales. I restricted my movements in the five or six hours I spent there and did not come across too much grass or visit any farms. Not to go would have been an insult to the Welsh. St. David's Day is important to them and this was the first occasion on which a foreign leader addressed the Assembly. That was important for them and they had organised an important conference on business and the future of Wales in Europe. I did not attend social events but the other two events were important. A decision not to attend might have been misunderstood.
The only issue in which the Welsh media was interested was why Wales could not play its rugby match. All but two of the questions I was asked concerned the reason we could not play the match. It was clear where the Welsh media's priority lay. Its concern was not just about the Irish crowds but about playing the rugby match.
The same applies in the case of Cheltenham. I do not understand why the festival is still going ahead. I have raised these issues with the Prime Minister on a number of occasions in the past two weeks. I hope the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will have the opportunity of talking to the British Minister for Agriculture later today. I have raised Cheltenham and other issues with Prime Minister Blair so we can understand the situation.
The Prime Minister recently told me that all reported cases in the UK are linked to the original farm. There have been reports about this issue and I thought from some of the reports in the English media that there were other cases not directly related to that farm. I heard such reports yesterday. However, the Prime Minister stated that is not so and that all cases, up to this morning's case, are directly related to the same large farm.
I have stated our views to the Prime Minister and given him the update I received from the interdepartmental group today. I have also asked that the British Minister for Agriculture speak to our Minister, Deputy Walsh. They know our views on this matter.
Last Wednesday we discussed the SDLP's views on progress in the Nelson, Hamill and Finucane inquiries and its opinion that such progress would assist the overall position. The answers and the progress we have got on that are still not satisfactory. We have still not received commitments. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding in that people think all cases are the same. These are landmark cases and events which have happened over the years and they are not all the same. They are different cases which are deeply ingrained in Northern Nationalists and republicans. They will not go away and we must continue to address them. They are similar in that they feed directly into the policing issue, but they are not similar in other aspects. We will continue to state our position on those cases.
As regards what Deputies Noonan and Quinn said, I do not think, and I have not thought for some time, that it is possible to get a conclusive and comprehensive final position on all the items which are not agreed, namely, demilitarisation, decommissioning and policing. If everyone puts in the required effort, including the Irish Government, we could get a process that would allow us to manage those issues over a difficult summer. I do not understand why people would want to leave issues in a vacuum and not at least have a process which moves them safely into a future period. That is why I am anxious to try to come to at least that conclusion over the next few days.
Does the Taoiseach agree the sentiments he has expressed are different from the sentiments he expressed previously in this House because the emphasis is now on a process rather than a conclusive final settlement? Perhaps he would elaborate on that. Has he analysed a speech given in south Armagh by a leading member of the IRA, Brian Keenan, which was initially reported in a Boston newspaper and then picked up by newspapers here? Is he aware of similar sentiments expressed by leading republicans which have not been reported, as far as I am aware, in the national press? If he has analysed those sentiments as expressed, is he still as confident as previously that it is the IRA's intention to put its weaponry beyond use and the intention of Sinn Féin in any circumstances to call on young Nationalists and republicans to join the new police service?
What I am saying now is not different from what I said last week, namely, that I did not see us being able to tie down all these areas prior to an election because we are speeding into that. There are clear understandings in all the discussions we have had over the past seven weeks or so. Everyone must agree to those issues and sign up to them in an interrelated way. It would be nicer, easier and, from a negotiating point of view, safer to conclude totally on the policing issue and move on. However, that is not a likely possibility this side of an election unless things change dramatically in the next 48 or 72 hours and I do not see that happening. I do not want to mislead the House on that issue.
I saw the comments attributed to senior republican figures in recent days. Whatever about the comments of individuals from time to time, the leadership of Sinn Féin has brought the republican movement to participate in democratic politics by signing up to the Good Friday Agreement and in all the discussions we have had since then. It is still doing so in all the discussions we are having to implement fully all aspects of the Agreement. I have noted the strong condemnation made on Sunday and yesterday by a number of Sinn Féin leaders, including Mr. Kelly, Mr. McGuinness and others, of the bombing of the BBC in London.
I did not see the word "condemnation".
Certainly, the way I read it was as a very strong condemnation of the events that took place.
No, they were not condemnations.
The Taoiseach without interruption, please.
I hope we can still get to a position where all republican and Nationalist parties will sign up to the new policing authority of Northern Ireland. For that to happen a number of aspects will have to be dealt with and it will take some more time to do that. We have just been talking about the Finucane, Hamill and Nelson inquiries but there are other issues, including emblems and badges. Those issues have to be resolved before we will get agreement on them, either from the SDLP or Sinn Féin, and we are continuing to endeavour to do that. There are difficulties in these negotiations for other people in other parties, which I understand. We are seeking to reach a fair understanding of the implementation of the Patten report as completely as possible, while at the same time understanding other people's difficulties. We will continue to do that.
As I have said so many times on Question Time, to bring normality to the affairs of Northern Ireland and to overcome all the difficulties of recent decades, not to mind history, the community requires an acceptable police force – acting as normal police services the world over – able to deal with all issues, including violence, smuggling and drugs offences. To do that, everybody needs to be involved. That is why we must continue working to ensure participation in the new police service by all sides of the community, including people who perhaps would not be associated with any side.
On 28 February, Deputy Quinn raised a question in this Chamber along the same lines that the Taoiseach has just addressed, as to whether Sinn Féin wanted to find an acceptable form of policing in the North of Ireland. Will the Taoiseach – and Deputy Quinn, also, when he has the opportunity – acknowledge that this is an issue which Sinn Féin takes with the utmost seriousness? The communities that support our party have borne the brunt of sectarian policing by the RUC over the past 80 years.
A question please, Deputy.
Yes. They need and demand a representative and accountable police service. I have already asked a question of the Taoiseach and I have a second question. Am I right in understanding from the Taoiseach's earlier remarks, that he agrees that this issue must be got absolutely right – the Taoiseach will be familiar with that language – and that the actions of the RUC Chief Constable in proceeding with the recruiting advertisements when this matter remains unresolved is unacceptable? In addition, the policing boards that were required under the same British legislation have not yet been established. Even in terms of the British Government's own policing legislation the decision to proceed was absolutely unacceptable. I would like to know the Taoiseach's position on both those points.
It is essential to get it absolutely right but, as Deputy Ó Caoláin would agree, the phrase "absolutely right" must include everybody. However, it is not easy to get it absolutely right for everybody. For example, in getting it absolutely right for somebody, one might get it totally wrong for someone else. As the Deputy knows, that is part of the dilemma. I am endeavouring to get it absolutely right, in a way which is fair to everybody, so that all can move forward.
With regard to the policing boards, it is essential that the balance, the system and the operational aspects are correct. I believe that can be achieved. Mr. Chris Patten did his homework well and if we could achieve what he set out in his report, that would be very acceptable to us. I see no reason to go beyond what he proposed.
On the administration of policing, the aspects of that can also be got right. Admittedly there are some difficulties. At one stage, we had 11 points which we tried to resolve. We do not have anything like that outstanding at present. I think we can get a satisfactory outcome. Deputy Quinn referred last week to the issue of emblems and badges. We understand the historical difficulties in that regard and we are all at one in trying to find a resolution.
On the policing issue, could the Taoiseach indicate what progress is being made on the various cross-Border initiatives between An Gárda Síochána in this jurisdiction and the new police service in the North, in relation to training and placement positions for members of An Gárda Síochána north of the border and vice versa? Given the level of vacancies in the police service in the North, are there opportunities for filling those vacancies in the context of more cross-Border co-operation? Would it be an important step towards helping to make the police service in the North more acceptable to both communities, if that level of co-operation was visible and acknowledged more openly?
Would the Taoiseach also agree that there is a role for a greater level of bilingualism in the new service, including written material and forms, and by acknowledging that the Irish language and perhaps also the Scots Ulster language, as well as English, should be more visible to indicate an acceptance by the police service of the diversity within the community?
With regard to the Taoiseach's visit to Wales, has he subsequently communicated any concern to the British Prime Minister that the Cheltenham horseracing event still seems set to take place? Would he also accept that it is particularly vital for him to re-establish his own bona fides in that regard, given the widespread view among the public that his visit was not as necessary as he perceived it to be? It sent a mixed message which is still being muddied—
Deputy, please—
This matter will arise again under Private Notice Questions and the Taoiseach should clarify his position on it.
On the matter of the Irish language and Ulster Scots, a number of efforts are being made to promote and co-ordinate the use of both languages. We have been supporting that in every way possible. The process of administrative change may not yet have reached the stage of using bi-lingual forms but I hope matters can move in that direction.
The Deputy also inquired about the level of co-operation between the Garda and the RUC. In respect of security matters, as has been the case in recent years, the Garda and the RUC continue to co-ordinate their activities as much as possible. I hope that the system, perhaps within the NIO and other bodies, will improve. It has been publicly stated that two members of the Garda Síochána responded to an advertisement for a number of positions and, on a technicality, were not called for interview. I do not believe that was very smart and perhaps I will leave my comments at that and not state what I really believe.
I am of the opinion that levels of co-operation must be developed and that the process should include members of the general police forces and not just senior officers. If this happens, signals will be sent to members of the Garda Síochána about the role they can play. There are no difficulties between high ranking officers, the Governments or the various Departments. However, down the ranks there continue to be problems which may be linked to historical matters. When members of the RUC served in Bosnia and elsewhere, they received training at Templemore. That is an acceptable example of co-operation and it should continue.
I already answered questions from Deputy Quinn in respect of Cheltenham. With regard to the matter involving Wales, I do not believe there was any misunderstanding. That issue was not raised in any of the hundreds of telephone calls we received at the weekend. We must make it clear that anyone travelling from rural areas, farms and other locations should not be doing so. Their actions are clearly unhelpful. I am conscious that 60,000 people per day are passing through the airports but, where possible, people should avoid travelling.
I heard one comment which made the comparison between addressing the Welsh Assembly and attending a football match. I do not believe any Member would take that seriously and I certainly do not. I take a light-hearted view of this matter in any event, given that the FA Carling Premiership is effectively over. There is no need for people to travel to football matches. However, we must continue to be vigilant for a considerable period.
The Taoiseach stated earlier that he did not expect the round of talks taking place today, which will continue tomorrow and, perhaps, into the weekend, to achieve a settlement in respect of decommissioning, demilitarisation or policing. He further stated that what was rather involved was the putting in place of a process. By the term "process" does the Taoiseach mean a timetable for dealing with matters under de Chastelain, a separate timetable for dealing with matters involving policing and a third for dealing with matters involving demilitarisation? Would this process include all-party discussions which could culminate, in the autumn, with a round table conference and, ultimately, lead to an agreement?
In the discussions that have taken place during the past seven or eight weeks, we have negotiated what will be the final position in respect of those issues and a number of others. In order for decommissioning – which will involve de Chastelain – and demilitarisation to take place, a great deal must happen, including the removal of a large amount of military infrastructure. The position with regard to policing is similar. The process involves 11 points, some of which were discussed in this House. It appears to the two Governments that it will not be possible to have the parties involved sign up to these before the advent of national and local elections. Whatever progress can be made now should be made and we should not allow for loose ends in terms of the way we bring it forward on the other side. If possible, we should do this by setting dates because the necessary work that has been done and the outstanding issues will not change after eight weeks of intensive discussions. On the basis that this weekend, the run-up to St. Patrick's week, was always going to be the final break, we can set down a clear position in terms of what has been achieved, what has to happen during the interim period and what remains to be completed on the other side. If that does not happen some parties, without being specific, will be in an amazingly difficult and uncertain position, which is unfair. We all know enough about election periods and marching seasons and that would inevitably lead to a difficult summer, and it would be wrong to leave it in that position. I say here again, and no doubt I will repeat it today in telephone calls, that if parties cannot sign up to everything – I do not particularly like that but I understand it – they should at least bring all the aspects to their final position this week.
I wish the Taoiseach well in his objective. I hope he can get to that point and that we have something that will manage the process through the marching season until the autumn, as he said.
I want to ask three questions. First, in respect of the British-Irish interparliamentary tier which is part and parcel of the Good Friday Agreement, does the Taoiseach believe the numerical composition of representatives from this House and from Westminster is in excess of a parity of esteem, to borrow a phrase from another place, in relation to all of the other nations affected? Perhaps the Taoiseach might reconsider that composition at some future date. Second, with regard to foot and mouth disease and setting good example, since next week is a committee week of the House, and by coincidence the same week as Cheltenham – the Chief Whip is to be complimented – will the Taoiseach ensure that representatives of this House do not set a bad example by going to Cheltenham? Will he join me, the leader of the Fine Gael Party and others in ensuring no member of the parliamentary party goes to Cheltenham next week, irrespective of whether it is on or off?
We already cancelled our tickets.
That includes the running of our own horse as well. It is about perception and example.
We cancelled the bookings.
I did not know. I compliment the Deputy.
Deputy Quinn, do not allow yourself to be deflected by interruptions.
My third question is in relation to policing. I welcome Deputy Ó Caoláin back to the House after a long absence. I got the impression that he had lapsed into some new form of abstentionism, but he is welcome back.
I am glad the Deputy missed me.
I did not miss him. I just noticed he was not here. There is a difference. Has the Taoiseach formed the view that some others have formed, namely, that Sinn Féin is raising the barrier in respect of issues surrounding policing as a diversion from its failure to deliver one iota on the issue of decommissioning since the Good Friday Agreement was signed?
On the interparliamentary tier, I detect from Deputy Quinn that he has heard there is some difficulty in that respect. I will be glad to explore that. I have no problem keeping it under review. All I have heard is that some of the smaller assemblies, Wales and Scotland in particular, have numerical problems but I am pre pared to look at any aspect of that. I do not have a difficulty with it.
On the foot and mouth question, I cannot understand why anyone would still want to run a horse in Cheltenham because it is almost on top of an exclusion zone.
This is not just another race meeting, which would be bad enough, but is on top of an exclusion zone. I was told last week in Wales by the British Minister of Agriculture that he believed Cheltenham would not go ahead. No one from here, or anywhere else, should go. I welcome Deputy Barrett's announcement that the Arctic Copper contingent pulled out.
I request Deputy Quinn to give me until Friday to answer his question on policing.