Vol. 447 No. 11
21 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the present position of discussions on the framework document with the British Government; when the document will be published; and the points on which agreement has not yet been reached. [1576/95]
29 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the role for the Opposition parties in the political talks which will take place on the basis of the framework document being finalised between the Irish and British Governments. [1175/95]
37 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, which has been made between the Irish and British Governments on the framework document; when the document will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1172/95]
38 Miss Harney asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in relation to the future talks on Northern Ireland, the way in which the Irish Government will put its proposals on internal Government arrangements in Northern Ireland; whether such proposals can be included in the framework document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [
52 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the parties which will be invited to participate in the framework talks. [1174/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 29, 37, 38 and 52 together.
The Joint Framework Document is the subject of intensive and ongoing negotiations between the Irish and British Governments. Both Governments wish to see the document concluded and published at the earliest opportunity and we are working actively towards that end.
However, while considerable progress towards finalising the text has been made, a number of outstanding issues require further attention and consideration.
I shall be meeting the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for discussions later this week which I hope will bring us closer to agreement on a final text. If sufficient progress can be achieved, I would then envisage a summit meeting in the fairly near future when the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister would agree and publish the document.
The framework document will represent the shared understanding of the two Governments in relation to the key issues which must be addressed in future talks. These include a balanced constitutional accommodation as well as new North-South structures and new eastwest arrangements. It will not be a blueprint to be imposed. It is a framework which we will commend to the parties for their consideration and for ultimate negotiation, so that the fears expressed by some Unionists, arising from their experience at the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, are unfounded.
The British Government has already indicated that, parallel to the publication of the framework document, it will publish a separate paper setting out its views on the Strand One aspects of future talks. The details of possible Strand One institutions are best worked out by the participants in that strand. It follows, accordingly, that the framework document will not enter into any detailed proposals for internal arrangements in Northern Ireland, though the two Governments obviously have a shared interest in the basic principles which will govern such institutions and their overall parameters. Our interest in this area is indeed formally recognised in the Anglo-Irish agreement.
As the current discussions between the two Governments on the framework document are necessarily confidential, I cannot provide any further details of its content at this stage or indicate those areas in which full agreement has yet to be reached.
The framework document is intended to give impetus and direction to renewed political talks to be held at the earliest possible date. The question of which parties will participate is a matter for agreement between the two Governments and the relevant political parties in Northern Ireland. The timing of future talks will also be a matter for discussion and agreement among the participants. The Government would, of course, hope that the participation and agenda for such talks would be as comprehensive as possible.
As regards the role of the Opposition, the Government as a whole and I wish to see our Northern policy conducted with the widest possible support from all parties in this House and we envisage close consultation with them.
The framework document will provide a focus for wide debate and discussion following its publication. Apart from the discussion which can be expected to take place in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, the Taoiseach and I will be glad to enter into dialogue about it with the Opposition parties in Dáil Éireann and to afford members of the Oireachtas every opportunity to convey their views on its contents.
With the achievement of peace there is now a unique opportunity to progress towards the agreement of new and lasting political arrangements on this island. The framework document will be a vital stage on the road towards that goal. The Government will do all in its power to ensure that the historic opportunity for an agreed resolution of this problem is seized by all concerned and that, following publication of the framework document, comprehensive political negotiations get under way at the earliest possible opportunity.
Why has the Irish Government not been consulted about the Strand One document in view of the Tánaiste's statement that it has a deep interest in this matter? When the discussions on the framework document commenced was it envisaged that there would be a second document on which the Irish Government would not be consulted?
If the Deputy recalls the origin of and preparation for the last session of round table talks that took place, I understand there was an understanding that the internal governance of Northern Ireland was a matter for Strand One. The Irish Government was not involved in Strand One and in that context I do not think we can have any objection to what is proposed by the British Government and what Mr. Major repeated many months ago. The basic framework remains the same in that nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed, as the Deputy will remember from his participation in the talks. What is important at this stage is that we complete the work on the framework document — the British Government said it would publish its document at the same time — and try to bring about the talks in which everyone now wants to participate.
Is the Strand One document the subject of discussion with parties in Northern Ireland or is it purely a unilateral document drawn up and published by the British Government?
In the context of the discussions the British Government had and its continuing discussions with the various parties in Northern Ireland, the parties are free to put forward their views on how they see the future of Northern Ireland. I am not party to those discussions and cannot say what is being discussed but obviously the parties which have had regular meetings with the British Government, for example, the SDLP, the Official Unionist Party and the Democratic Union-Party, if so disposed, have an opportunity to put forward what they want to see in that document regarding the government of Northern Ireland.
Let us not forget the time factor in dealing with Priority Questions.
I appreciate that. Does the Tánaiste agree that the two major outstanding issues are the question of North/South institutions and constitutional questions such as Articles 2 and 3?
From the Government's point of view we have attempted to respect a degree of confidentiality in the negotiations. It is well known that the major key issues which remain to be settled relate to three areas, first North/South institutions; second, the constitutional question and third the European Union dimension. It was always understood that these areas would be dealt with at the latter end of negotiations. I hope we can make progress on these this week through early publication of the document.
