Liz McManus
Ceist:38 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, to date, of the Northern Ireland all-party talks. [18028/97]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Peace Process.
After some 15 months of discussion over procedural matters and decommissioning substantive political negotiations were launched in Belfast on 24 September. The negotiations take place within three separate strands: Strand 1 covers relationships within Northern Ireland, Strand 2 relationships within the island of Ireland, and Strand 3 relationships between the British and Irish Governments. All three strands are to proceed in parallel. The scheduling of meetings and procedural matters are dealt with by a Business Committee.
At the same time as launching the substantive three-stranded negotiations, an Independent International Commission on the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons was established. A sub-committee of plenary was also established to liaise with the body, with a separate sub-committee to consider confidence-building measures.
While the participants are required by the rules of procedure to treat the detail of the negotiations as a matter of confidence, I can outline the following broad development to date.
The participants agreed to begin substantive negotiations with an initial consideration of each item on the agendas for Strands 1 and 2. This initial round of discussions is due to be completed by mid-November.
Strand One negotiations involve the British Government and the Northern Ireland political parties under the chairmanship of the British Government. The Irish Government is not a participant in Strand One. To date the participants have discussed principles and requirements, constitutional issues and new institutions.
Negotiations in Strand Two involve the two Governments and the Northern Ireland political parties and are chaired by Senator Mitchell, assisted by former Finnish Prime Minister, Harri Holkeri, and retired Canadian General, John de Chastelain. To date, the participants have discussed principles and requirements, constitutional issues and new institutions.
Strand Three negotiations involve the two Governments who are required to hold liaison meetings with the parties. The two Governments circulated a joint consultation paper to the political parties and have invited the parties to put forward their views on this.
The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning is chaired by General de Chastelain and includes also a Finnish member, Brigadier Tauno Nieminen, and an American, Donald Johnson. It operates from offices in Dublin and Belfast. The Commission has presented an interim draft report to the two Governments on possible schemes for decommissioning and will be briefing the political parties on the progress in their work over the next two weeks.
The Sub-Committee on Decommissioning is likely to meet later this month to consider the interim report of the Independent Commission. The Sub-Committee on Confidence-Building Measures is also likely to meet again soon to consider its confidence-building measures agenda.
A plenary meeting to review progress across the three strands is likely to be held in early December.