Michael Noonan
Question:1 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent developments on the Northern Ireland peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23513/01]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Official Engagements.
Michael Noonan
Question:2 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23514/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:3 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach when he will next meet with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23516/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:4 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting in Dublin on 10 October 2001 with John Hume and Mark Durkan of the SDLP. [24330/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:5 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the British Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24818/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:6 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the discussions he had with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in the margins of the Ghent summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24983/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:7 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the political situation in Northern Ireland. [24984/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:8 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on contact with the parties in Northern Ireland since the resumption of Dáil Éireann after the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25084/01]
Austin Currie
Question:9 Mr. Currie asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the most recent developments in relation to the peace process particularly on putting illegal arms beyond use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26021/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:10 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach when he next expects to meet with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25478/01]
Trevor Sargent
Question:11 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings with the Northern Ireland political parties following the IRA's move on decommissioning of October 2001. [26247/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:12 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting on 18 October 2001 with a person (details supplied) regarding the situation at the Holy Cross national school in Ardoyne. [26406/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:13 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the matters discussed and conclusions reached at his meeting with representatives of Sinn Féin on 24 October 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26407/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:14 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach his views on the statements issued by the IRA and General John de Chastelain on 23 October 2001; the action the Government intends to take to ensure that the positive conditions created by this statement are used to further the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26408/01]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:15 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on developments in the peace process. [26720/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:16 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25480/01]
Trevor Sargent
Question:17 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the United States in early November 2001. [26246/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:18 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his visit to the United States. [27671/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:19 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the matters discussed and conclusions reached in his discussions with President Bush during his recent visit to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27672/01]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:20 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the organisations and individuals he met during his recent visit to the United States; the outcome of his discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27673/01]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:21 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the United States of America. [27725/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:22 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the United States. [28030/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:23 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversation with President Bush on the situation in Afghanistan. [28031/01]
Joe Higgins
Question:24 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he discussed economic issues and their implications for Ireland during his recent visit to the United States. [28032/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:25 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting in Washington on 8 November 2001 with President Bush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28467/01]
Michael Noonan
Question:26 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach the cost of his recent visit to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28475/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 26, inclusive, together.
At the invitation of the president of the university, on Wednesday, 7 November, I addressed the Forum of Public Affairs at the Kennedy school in Harvard. In the course of my address, I expressed my solidarity and the solidarity of the people of Ireland with the American people over the 11 September atrocities. I restated our position that those who perpetrated the attacks could not be allowed to succeed and that we would continue to work with the international community to combat the threat of terrorism. My address also allowed me an opportunity to speak, and to respond to questions, about Northern Ireland and our continuing efforts to achieve progress through the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
On Thursday, 8 November, I met President Bush and other senior US officials, including the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, at the White House. During our discussion, the President reiterated his support for the peace process and welcomed the progress that is being made. He expressed his continued readiness, despite the enormous pressures which he faces in pursuing the war against international terrorism following the 11 September outrages, to assist us in every way possible in our efforts in relation to Northern Ireland.
We also discussed the action against Afghanistan, its effect on the ordinary people of Afghanistan and the need for humanitarian relief. The meeting also focused on the Middle East peace process. Later that day I addressed the US Council for Commerce and Industry annual dinner in New York, where I expressed my belief in the strength of the Irish economy and our ability to weather the international downturn.
On Friday morning I chaired a breakfast meeting of the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board, where I briefed members on developments in the peace process. We also had a very useful and welcome exchange on the current economic situation in the US and the Irish economy. Board members gave me their views on the prospects for economic recovery and a useful perspective on the US economy. We also discussed the implications of a downturn for the ICT sector and noted the work of the Advisory Committee on Infocomms, which is reviewing Ireland's strategy in this sector.
Later that day I met Mayor Giuliani and offered our sincere condolences to the people of New York in the wake of the 11 September tragedy. I also visited the scene of utter devastation at the World Trade Center site. That evening I attended a reception marking the 150th anniversary of All Hallows College at the embassy in Washington. The cost of the visit has yet to be determined. Outstanding invoices will be forwarded to my Department by the Department of Foreign Affairs in due course.
I met Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin on 24 October. As I said in my statement in the House on 24 October, the decision of the IRA to put a quantity of arms beyond use must be seen as the biggest breakthrough in the peace process since the Good Friday Agreement was ratified, North and South. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate David Trimble and Mark Durkan on their election as First and Deputy First Ministers, and also to congratulate Mark Durkan, whom I met again on Thursday, 15 November, on his appointment as leader of the SDLP, and Bríd Rogers as deputy leader. I wish them well in their new roles.
I applaud the efforts of the pro-Agreement parties in coming together in a spirit of co-operation to ensure that the challenge to the Good Friday Agreement was successfully addressed. It is now important to move ahead with the full implementation of the Agreement. Stable, uninterrupted and inclusive government is essential for Northern Ireland. I believe that the actions of the Alliance Party and that of the Women's Coalition will be acknowledged by all fair-minded people as a generous and courageous step taken to protect the Agreement.
A meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council will take place in Dublin on 30 November where I hope we can move forward with the work of these two important bodies established by the Agreement.
The Northern Ireland Secretary of State has announced that the next elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly will be held on 1 May 2003. I hope that the intervening period will be used to good effect and that Northern Ireland will be able to enjoy a period of political stability and progress which will benefit all.
I warmly welcome the recent decision of the GAA to delete rule 21. The Good Friday Agreement and the policing arrangements that are being put in place in Northern Ireland are creating the environment where Nationalists and Unionists can live together on the basis of partnership, equality and mutual respect. The deletion of rule 21 is very much consistent with this new beginning and with promoting reconciliation and tolerance in Northern Ireland.
I met Father Aidan Troy on Thursday, 18 October. I was already acutely aware of the continuing shameful protest and the difficulties being experienced by the children at the Holy Cross school, but I welcomed the first-hand briefing which Father Troy gave me. It is clear that the children of Holy Cross school have had to endure an appalling and unacceptable situation. I welcome recent efforts to help, but more needs to be done quickly to bring this protest to an end.
I met bilaterally with Prime Minister Blair in the margins of the informal European Council meeting in Ghent on Friday, 19 October, where we discussed issues relating to Northern Ireland and the peace process. We have, of course, kept in touch by telephone since then. We will continue to meet as and when necessary. I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the British-Irish Council meeting in Dublin on 30 November. We will also meet again at the European Council meeting in Laeken, Belgium, in the middle of next month.
The Taoiseach will be aware that the protest at Holy Cross school, Ardoyne, continued this morning and that a female protester was arrested. Does he share the view of Nigel Dodds that this 12 week stand-off is about to be resolved? Has he any reason to share that confidence, in view of the ongoing and deteriorating protest?
There have been numerous initiatives to try to make progress on this issue. The main initiative involved David Trimble as First Minister and Seamus Mallon as Deputy First Minister who made efforts some time ago. Efforts have been made by the new members of the Executive to make progress, various intermediaries have been involved and there has been contact between some of the pro-Agreement parties at leadership level to try to make progress. There have also been meetings between negotiating groups. However, there has been no substantive breakthrough. Some progress has been made on each occasion to alleviate the difficulties, but this has not brought about a satisfactory conclusion. That remains the position.
Unfortunately the level of trust or co-operation between the Ardoyne and Glenbryn residents, or their intermediaries, does not seem to be making any substantive breakthrough.
It is understandable that the Taoiseach answered 26 questions together, but a number of different supplementaries arise. Rather than group these, I will inquire about one issue. As regards the initiative and the welcome, belated action taken by the IRA to commence the process of decommissioning, the Taoiseach was cited by David Trimble on 18 November as saying that the IRA will have to move on the process before the term of office of the de Chastelain commission expires.
The welcome initiatives taken some weeks ago have led to the re-establishment of the Executive and the resumption of the all-Ireland bodies and the British-Irish Council, even though the council was not affected per se. Has the Taoiseach received any indications from authoritative sources to indicate that we can expect more of the same as regards the putting of arms and armaments, including explosives, beyond use?
I have not. I had a short meeting with General de Chastelain which was more a discussion regarding events which had taken place and his assessment of where matters stand, rather than about the future. I have also held some dialogue with the Northern parties, but those discussions were more concerned with policing and progress in that area. The Deputy correctly cited my view. In his very welcome and useful statement General de Chastelain said he would remain engaged with the IRA's representative and hoped progress would continue. That is still what is required, otherwise these issues will keep coming back. It should now be left, successfully I hope, to General de Chastelain and the IRA representative to make ongoing progress. If the process comes up against a date each time, it will destabilise it. My view was to say that last week, rather than wait because every time we come up against these matters we get onto a merry-go-round. In the end it undermines the progress everybody has made. I hope these matters can move on in a calm, organised and low-key manner with General de Chastelain, as originally envisaged by the decommissioning structures. If that happens, we will be able to move on successfully without this issue recurring.
The Taoiseach and I seem to be in agreement that it is desirable from everybody's point of view, but particularly from the viewpoint of the Ulster Unionist Party and its current leadership which has a more difficult path to travel in maintaining support than other parties in Northern Ireland, that the process commenced by the IRA will continue under its own timetable. I hope it will be concluded by next February, but presumably if not by then, the de Chastelain commission's remit can be renewed. Will the Taoi seach confirm this? My information is to the effect that it is a renewable contract, so to speak. We need to avoid the inevitability of deadlines with all the consequent pressure that would bring. May I take it that there is, in effect, no end of February deadline? May I also take it that, if needs be, the commission's term can be extended in order to remove that deadline, and that the IRA knows what it needs and should continue to do it in its own manner? The Taoiseach said General de Chastelain told him he remains engaged with the IRA. Can I interpret his reply as another way of saying we can reasonably expect further initiatives, or is that pushing it too far?
General de Chastelain obviously intends to remain engaged and, having made a major breakthrough, hopes to continue to make progress. The parties hope the remit issue can be dealt with if it arises, and I think it can be. Following the major breakthrough in October, the context for dealing with the arms issue is clear. The best way of doing so is through the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It is for the politicians to get on with the political process within the structures of the agreement, thus allowing General de Chastelain to engage with the IRA representative on the other issues. I would like to be able to tell the House that it has all been agreed, but that is not the case. However, I have no reason to believe that will not happen.
I join the Taoiseach in welcoming the decision by the GAA to remove rule 21 from its constitution. In view of the fact that the rule has now been removed, will the Taoiseach join me in calling on Mr. Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin to support the new policing arrangement in Northern Ireland and reverse their decision not to encourage young Catholics to join the police force? The Taoiseach may be aware of a public meeting in Dublin tonight organised by the organisation, Justice for the Forgotten. Will he contact the Northern Secretary, Dr. Reid, who has agreed to meet Mr. Justice Barron, although no date has been set for the meeting, to ensure a date will be set as soon as possible?
On the first matter, I have welcomed the decision by the GAA's special congress on rule 21. That was a welcome move and I know the GAA has been supportive of this endeavour since 1998. The previous GAA president, Mr. Joe McDonagh, did much of the groundwork for what has now been completed by the current president, Mr. McCague. For people to be able to live side by side with each other in society, a police force is required that is acceptable to everybody and seen to be fair and even-handed. It must also be seen to have support from the various political parties, as well as community groups and the public generally. The Police Service of Northern Ireland was established on 4 October with a new mandate. It will operate under new arrangements, including policing and partnership boards on which the SDLP is represented. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, and I have worked with the SDLP in making this move. We have done all we can to convince Sinn Féin that it should also move in this direction. We have spent hours on end going through the details of these issues. Sinn Féin is not prepared to do so at this stage, but I believe it will following the implementation plan for legislation promised by the British Government. In the interim, however, if it is Sinn Féin's political objective not to move at this stage, young nationalists should not be prevented from joining the new police service. They should be wished well if they want to do so. If people are to be consistent in seeking an end to violence and paramilitary activity, seeing even-handed justice with people living side by side, and trying to diminish sectarian difficulties in Ardoyne and other areas, then they need a police service. It, therefore, behoves everybody to support such a service which we strongly support. We fought long and hard to reach a satisfactory situation which we felt we could recommend, as everyone in the House has done. We did not recommend it at the start, but fought to get back as close as possible to the Patten proposals, as we believed it was essential to do. We have now achieved this; the policing and partnership boards are in place. If people feel they cannot join, they should at least be clear on their support for those who wish to join the police force. Those who have applied to join, and those who have already joined, should not face difficulties from anybody.
My second question referred to the Justice for the Forgotten organisation.
I answered a question on this matter last week and will raise the issue again. We have made representations and made our position clear. I will be meeting Mr. Justice Barron on related matters later today. If this matter has not been resolved by next week, we will raise it again with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr. Reid, and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, when they are in Dublin.
To arrange the meeting.
Yes, in order that the meeting will take place.
Ba mhaith liom, thar cheann an Chomhaontas Ghlais aontú leis an Taoiseach agus fáilte a chur roimh Chumann Lúthchleas Gael tar éis dó deireadh a chur le riail 21. Léiríonn seo an-mhisneach agus an-mhuinín and that bravery and trust are the qualities needed more than ever. Does the Taoiseach, like me, thank God that we are not expressing sympathy to the victims of large-scale carnage in Armagh? I compliment those involved in preventing that potential atrocity.
My question is about the discussions held with the Alliance Party about reviewing the electoral systems in the Northern Assembly. Does the Taoiseach know if progress has been made on that matter and when the promised review of electoral systems in the Assembly will be carried out? If work is ongoing, will the Government and the Opposition parties be involved or consulted? Both the Taoiseach and Martin Mansergh know the Green Party's interest in the area of inclusive consensus building and proportionate decision-making procedures. Will there be consultation with Members of the Opposition about a review of electoral systems either in the Northern Assembly or in this House?
I welcome what the Deputy said in the first part of his contribution. I am sure what everyone has said will be appreciated outside the House by the GAA and its authorities.
I welcome what the Alliance Party and the Women's Coalition did, which was done on the basis that there would be a review. It is a Strand One review under Clause 36. I understand the consultation process has already commenced. The Secretary of State will organise that. Given that it is Strand One, we will not have any direct involvement in it. If the Deputy or his party has any views on it or an input to make, they should be forwarded. I do not see any difficulty with that.
Now that the new policing arrangements are in place in Northern Ireland, Rule 21 has been abolished by the GAA and decommissioning has started, will the Taoiseach raise the matter of punishment beatings with the appropriate authorities in Northern Ireland in an effort to eliminate this continuing and barbaric process?
The answer is yes. There is still a disturbing number of attacks and a number of issues in both areas. As the Deputy is aware, there have been a number of serious events on both sides recently, particularly in loyalist areas. One of the big issues with which we must contend is trying to get the loyalist political movements back into position. There have been a number of serious attacks in recent weeks, perhaps not every night at this time of the year, although that was the case during the summer. Whether they are republican or loyalist, they are of major concern and we will continue to highlight those issues. It is unacceptable that people take the law into their own hands. They do not have the support of a democratic system. We will continue to raise that issue.
During the Taoiseach's brief discussions with President Bush, did he receive a commitment from the President about future economic and political help for the peace process in Northern Ireland? Did he meet any of the Irish charitable organisations in New York and, if so, did they seek financial aid to help some of the Irish victims of 11 September? Is it the Government's intention to provide further aid to Irish charitable organisations which are helping the victims of 11 September? I understand the Minister for Foreign Affairs did so last September when he was there. Does the Taoiseach believe it would be appropriate to respond in that way because of the support we have received from the US over the years, particularly in recent years?
I will answer the Deputy's second question first. I met a number of the groups at the functions I attended. I did not have individual meetings with them in the short time I was there. They were grateful for the resources they received from the special provision in September. They did not make any application or demand for further funds. They appreciate the ongoing efforts. There is another initiative involving Trina Vargo, Bord Fáilte and the Irish Hotels Federation for the fire fighters and the police service. All the initiatives have been well received. We will continue to work with those agencies. They will be glad of whatever support we give them. They have accepted the financial aid they have received for which they are grateful.
As regards the meeting with President Bush, he is still determined to honour what he said last year that at a suitable time he intends to bring his senior members of the Administration to an economic forum. The date and timing of that has now been changed, given the changed circumstances. It would probably have been in early spring, but that will be pushed back now for obvious reasons. However, it is the wish of the Administration to co-operate and attend an economic forum on some date next year which will be fronted by some of the major groups and done on an all-island basis, particularly to include the parties in Northern Ireland. It will not be unlike the one which happened previously. The working arrangements for that have not been worked through, but it will happen next year, although it will probably be later rather than earlier in the year.
I want to ask the Taoiseach two separate questions, both of which are related to Northern Ireland. The first refers to the position of people who were effectively expelled from Northern Ireland by the republican movement or, in some limited cases, by loyalist paramilitaries. I am most familiar with people who were driven out of Northern Ireland by the IRA or the republican movement without due process of any kind. I understand – the Taoiseach can correct me if I am wrong – that republican suspects, who were referred to as OTRs, were given an amnesty as part of the response by the British authorities to the initiative taken by the IRA in October to commence the process of decommissioning and putting arms beyond use. Have the British and Irish Governments requested from the republican movement an initiative or response similar to the amnesty or pardon for OTRs so that those families who were driven out of Northern Ireland in an illegal way for whatever reason by the republican movement could now receive a signal to the effect that the threat to their lives or limbs no longer exists in the context of an improved situation where community policing is now a possible reality?
My second question relates to the forthcoming meeting of the North-South Council and the British and Irish Government Councils. Would it be possible, particularly with the all-Ireland bodies, given that we are looking at a period of at least 18 months of continuity in the North and reasonable continuity in the South in terms of shared areas of agreement, to identify a work programme for the two Executives on the island? Perhaps at the forthcoming meeting, which will be held in a week or so, an indication would emerge as to the type of areas the Government here and the Executive in Northern Ireland intend to pursue and the priorities they have over the next 18 months, which may perhaps be broken into three six month periods. Is that possible and, if not, does the Taoiseach agree it would be useful for the purpose of reintroducing a degree of certainty, confidence and predictability into the workings and the programmes of the two Governments?
We all agree with fighting the OTR case. I raised the point many times as I fought the OTR case, that people who were intimidated and had to leave their homes should not be held hostage to the circumstances in which we now live and they should be able to return home. Statements have been made by republican leaders on those matters. However, there are groups some of whom I have met – it is about a year since I met the last group – who are concerned about this matter. We have made it clear that in our efforts to see the OTR cases dealt with, we want to see any people who were wrongly forced from their homes and their communities being able to return. That is an issue we will continue to raise. I understand that in many communities there is a bad situation, but having said that, I have no doubt that the case on OTRs is valid in these circumstances, and should equally apply where people have been driven away and driven underground in other countries. They should be allowed to return home.
In reply to the Deputy's second question, we would be glad to do that. As I said in my reply, what the institutions need is a fair run. They need a sustained period of normality where the Good Friday agreement can be implemented. We had agreed previously, that we would try to deal with a range of issues. We sought to share out the burden so that different parts of the British-Irish Council would take a lead on various items. Our lead item was the drugs problem in all its forms because it is increasingly affecting Northern Ireland along with many other countries. That is an issue we will discuss on Friday week. We had logged in some other issues, but I agree that we should have a clear period to allow bilateral meetings to take place, smaller groupings to meet, and to allow for more communication between all of the groupings that make up the British-Irish Council rather than just the two Governments. That would be helpful to all of us in building relationships and to Northern Ireland and David Trimble if we were to proceed in that way. I will ensure in the next period that items are assigned so that different people can take the lead at meetings during the next year or 18 months.
The Taoiseach said he met the Irish-American economic advisory board in New York? What advice did it give him about the future direction of the American economy, the prospects for growth next year and the prospects of American investment in Ireland? Will he outline the membership of that board? Has it changed over the years? It has been there for about eight years and I understand it was put in place by Deputy Albert Reynolds. Is the board reflective of where investment is coming from in America? For example, is there somebody on the board from the Silicon Valley and from the southern part of the United States?
I have put out the names of the board recently enough. The board has existed for almost ten years. Two or three years ago Ambassador Ó hUigín put in a great deal of effort with IDA in America and Enterprise Ireland to get some new people on to the board that reflected both the next generation and some of the upcoming Irish business leaders. Most of the other members are still active although some have retired and moved on. It is still a very representative group and has a high level group of extremely important corporate executives. The embassy and IDA Ireland are always on the look-out for senior ranking people. They are all presidents or chief executive officers of their companies and give of their time. The proceedings of the meetings are never made public. This reflects the confidential nature of the board and the fact that members participate in a private capacity – not representing their company – and on a voluntary basis. Many are well known and travel back and forward here. Many of them are extremely well known to Members. They have come on to the board during the life of successive Governments and put in an enormous amount of effort and work not only at the board meetings but on other issues also. The Advisory Committee on Infocomms is chaired by Brian Thompson. He gives an enormous amount of time to it as he did to ICTs and other issues in recent years.
I got a good assessment of the American economy from them. As in any group in economic business anywhere, there would not be just one message or one voice. They would not necessarily all agree. The board members emphasised that the key to economic upturn was consumer confidence which is shattered in the United States but is beginning to improve somewhat. Perhaps that is linked to the fact that this is Thanksgiving week in America. Their view was that it is hard to predict what will happen. with the interest rates being so low – they are the lowest since John F. Kennedy's time – and the enormous impetus of the US budgetary stimulus based on what will happen in international security developments. Their view of what will happen over the next quarter was based on developments in those areas. In the United States they tend to focus on the quarter and on not much longer than that. Their view is that interest rate reductions, stimulus into the economy and international security developments will have an impact.
Looking at their view of security I can add nothing other than what all Members know. It is all in the public domain day after day. On the US budgetary stimulus, the effect of the money being put into the system is that trillions of dollars are added to the American economy. If the psychological difficulty, which for all the obvious reasons they are suffering, was to abate somewhat – it will not disappear for obvious reasons and everyone understands that – the effect of the stimulus to the economy and the low interest rates should generate activity. Business people, manufacturers and the services sector are worried that that could take some time. On the other side the financial people do not think it will take much time. They believe it will move quite quickly.
The board members, many of whom are big in ICT, pointed out to me that they believe what has happened in ICT where the downturn started last year in the United States was largely due to over investment. That over investment happened in several ways but the dot.com era is moving through the system and while there are substantial losses in it, they believe that industry will improve whether it is infocomms or whatever. The view was that consumer confidence would be crucial. If consumer confidence is restored in the early months of next year they believe they will drive on. If consumer confidence is not restored there will be a more prolonged problem. That is a summary of their assessment.