asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the progress made on the implementation of the agreement between the Irish Government and the Government of the United Kingdom regarding Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Agreement.
1.
Although the matters raised in this question are the particular responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs as joint Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Conference. I am on this occasion answering this question which has been addressed to me as this provides a suitable opportunity to convey to the Dáil the parliamentary procedure it is intended to adopt in regard to matters relating to the Conference.
In future, questions about the conference will be taken by the Irish Permanent Ministerial Representative at the Conference, Deputy Peter Barry, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Moreover, I wish to inform Deputies that it is intended that answers will be confined to details as contained in the joint statements issued after meetings of the Conference.
As regards the procedure for more extensive discussion by the Dáil of the Anglo-Irish agreement in general. I have been considering what that procedure should best be. I shall be in contact with the Leader of the Opposition as soon as this consideration is completed.
With regard to the matter raised in the question itself, the agreement entered into force on 29 November 1985, following its approval by the Dáil and Seanad and by the British Parliament. The agreement was registered with the United Nations by both Governments on 20 December.
There have been two regular meetings and one special meeting of the Inter-Governmental Conference set up under Article 2 of the agreement. The texts of the joint statements issued after the meetings have been placed before the House, for reference.
The first meeting was held on 11 December. At this meeting the Conference had a first discussion of how it should approach its future programme of work in all the fields — political, legal, economic, social and cultural — assigned to it under the agreement. It also discussed the security questions mentioned in the joint statement issued after the meeting, including Border security and steps to improve relations between the security forces and the minority community in Northern Ireland. It agreed to establish a working group of officials to consider the machinery for the further discussion of legal matters, including the administration of justice and noted the statements of international support for the agreement.
A special meeting of the Conference was held on 30 December at which the Irish Permanent Ministerial Representative, Deputy Peter Barry, Minister for Foreign Affairs, put forward views and proposals designed to give substantial expression to the aim of ensuring confidence in the administration of justice. The hunger strike which was then taking place in the Maze Prison but which ceased on 6 January was also discussed. The meeting was held at our request.
At the third meeting held on 10 January officials reported on ways in which the discussion of legal matters could best be pursued. The officials are to continue their discussions with a view to a meeting, before the next meeting of the Conference, of a sub-group of the Conference comprising the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General and, on the British side, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Attorney General. The Irish side offered views on the British consultative paper published in 1985 on the Police Complaints Procedure. We also put forward views and proposals on legislation relating to flags and emblems in Northern Ireland and on the position of the Irish language in Northern Ireland and the British side undertook to consider these views and proposals before decisions were taken. The Chief Constable of the RUC and the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána joined the meeting and the Conference was given details of continuing and enhanced arrangements for the policing of Border areas on both sides. The Conference agreed to consider at its next meeting a progress report from the Commissioner and the Chief Constable on the programme of work referred to in Article 9 (1) of the agreement relating to cross-Border security co-operation.
In general, I may say that the progress made has been in line with the initial steps envisaged in the Joint Communiqué and represents a satisfactory start in carrying out the agreement which, as Deputies know, has for its first objective the achievement of peace and stability in Northern Ireland, the reconciliation of the two major traditions in the island and the creation of a new climate of friendship and co-operation between the people of Britain and Ireland.
The next meeting of the Conference will be held in February.
Could the Taoiseach indicate the number of officials who are permanently seconded to the work of the Conference? Also, is he in a position, as yet, to make any statement regarding discussions with the United States Government on funding for Ireland, North and South?
In reply to the first question, no, I would not intend to give information of the kind requested by the Deputy. The second question is, I think, a separate one and does not arise on this particular one here.