I welcome this opportunity to speak on this subject. We all regret the deaths of innocent people that have taken place in the North. We have a duty to spell out very clearly that deaths and killings in the North will not achieve anything politically in this island. The first thing that has to be clearly said is that hope lies in negotiation. I come from a part of this country that is very near the North and has suffered as a result of the troubles in the North. As a House our priority must be to send the message to the families who have lost dear ones. First, our deepest sympathy goes out to them. Second we must send a message to those who carry the bomb or the gun and mow down innocent people that that is not acceptable to the ordinary people on this island. This is turning the clock back 50 years.
The commercial border on this island has disappeared. There was hope that we could resolve our political differences within the context of a European Common Market, but there is still an element who have no patience and who seem to thrive on using the gun and slaughtering innocent people. That behaviour is alien to the vast majority of the Irish people. Whether you come from the Shankill or elsewhere, killing human beings will not solve the problem. I welcome this opportunity to extend the sympathy of this House to the families of those innocent victims.
I believe that the responsibility lies with the British and the Irish Governments to solve the problem and to come to grips with the present situation. The Irish Government have been honest and fair in their approach to the talks that have reached stalemate. The people who prevented the talks and created conditions and pre-conditions for talks, must bear some of the responsibility. The Irish Government has been enthusiastic and energetic about these talks. On taking office, the Taoiseach stated that he had two priorities — the troubles in the North of Ireland and unemployment. I accept that without question.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and everyone who supports them, are totally committed to a peaceful process in the North of Ireland. We should stand together and condemn the people who kill and slaughter in the name of the ordinary people. They do not have our support or the support of any section of the people to continue that process.