Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 February 2005
100 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to criticisms levelled by the SDLP at the comprehensive agreement document that some fundamental principles of the Good Friday Agreement in terms of the procedures for nominating Ministers to the Executive have been undermined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2782/05]
View answer176 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the failure to reach agreement on the restoration of the devolved institutions in the North as outlined in the proposals by the British and Irish Governments for a comprehensive agreement, published in December 2004; the precise issues that led to the failure to agree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2781/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 176 together.
The proposals for a comprehensive agreement that were published by the two Governments on 8 December covered the key issues that must be resolved to finally and definitively assure peace and political stability in Northern Ireland. They addressed the four crux issues, which had been the subject of intensive discussions since the Assembly elections in November 2003 — ending paramilitarism; arms decommissioning; completing the policing project; and ensuring sustainable political institutions. While agreement was reached in relation to the policing and institutional aspects, it was not possible to achieve it in regard to the transparency of arms decommissioning or in respect of the ending of all forms of criminal activity.
Recent developments, including the attribution by the Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, of responsibility for the Northern Bank raid to the Provisional IRA, and the sharing of that assessment by the Garda Síochána, have validated the need for definitive and demonstrable action in relation to the ending of criminal activity if the public confidence necessary to sustain inclusive government is to be achieved. All our collective endeavours have been focused on sustaining the trust and confidence needed to achieve the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including the inclusive operation of its institutions and a clear commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means by all participants. This must include an immediate end to all forms of paramilitary and criminal activity.
In the context of recent events, I deeply regret that, in the immediate future, progress on the implementation of the comprehensive agreement is unlikely to proceed as we would have wished. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that the proposals in the comprehensive agreement relating to the operation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive fully protect the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement, its power-sharing provisions and North-South arrangements. In framing our proposals on these issues, the Governments took careful note of the exhaustive discussions which took place during the review of the operation of the Good Friday Agreement in 2004. The contents of our proposals were closely informed by the views and proposals of all the parties who made constructive contributions in the review.
The Good Friday Agreement provides that the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister should be jointly elected by a cross-community vote in the Assembly. The revised arrangements would, in addition to the First and Deputy First Ministers, include the other Ministers being appointed to the Executive in that cross-community vote. In addition, the proposal for a modification in the election arrangements has no implications for the exercise of the joint functions of the First and Deputy First Ministers, which remain entirely unchanged. In fact, it would be strengthened by the inclusion of a new obligation in the ministerial pledge of office to observe the joint nature of the office. One stated concern in regard to this issue was that these arrangements might be used by parties to seek to vet or veto ministerial selection. The Governments sought to address this concern by making it clear that the Assembly has only one opportunity to select an Executive.
Taking forward these proposals, when the context is appropriate, will require amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in the British Parliament. The Government will seek to ensure that such legislation faithfully translates the import and intent of the comprehensive agreement, ensuring that the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement are fully protected.
