Ivor Callely
Ceist:7 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the developments and likely time schedule with regard to matters relating to the peace process in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/98]
Other Questions. - British-Irish Agreement.
Liz McManus
Ceist:63 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the British-Irish Agreement. [16351/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 63 together.
Since the British-Irish Agreement was concluded on 10 April, we have seen two endorsements by the people of the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Ireland. On May 22, the Agreement won the backing of 85 per cent of all those voting on this island in the referenda, North and South. This overwhelming endorsement indicated a widespread willingness on the part of the Irish people to set aside the divisions of the past and to seek to resolve their differences on political issues by democratic and exclusively peaceful means.
On 25 June, the people of Northern Ireland went to the polls to elect their representatives to the 108-seat Northern Assembly. Once again the people of Northern Ireland have come out to support the British-Irish Agreement with three quarters of the seats going to those political parties which support the Agreement and wish it to work. I hope that even those who opposed the Agreement will respect the democratic verdict of the people and will make the Assembly work.
Yesterday, the shadow Assembly had its first meeting and elected the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister of the new Northern Ireland Executive. It has also set up a Standing Orders Committee to examine the working practices of the Assembly. We expect that, after the summer recess, the shadow Assembly will quickly define the portfolios of the Ministers in the new Executive, thereby allowing the very early allocation of the ten ministerial posts to the individual parties.
Representatives of the Northern Ireland transitional administration and the Government, operating in the shadow North-South Ministerial Council, will meet to undertake a work programme to identify, and agree by 31 October, at least six areas in which implementation bodies are to be established, and at least six areas where co-operation will take place separately through existing bodies. It will then fall to the two Governments to complete all necessary legislative and other arrangements to enable the implementation bodies to be established on the entry into force of the agreement. Intensive consultations are taking place between Government departments in preparation for our forthcoming discussions with the shadow Executive.
All of the new institutions set up by the agreement reached on Good Friday will be formally established on the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement. The timing of this is dependent on the enactment in both the Irish and British jurisdictions of all the necessary legislation. The legislative process may not be completed until early next year, though we shall do our utmost to accelerate matters.
The Government has also established an interdepartmental steering group of senior officials, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to co-ordinate and actively move forward the implementation of all aspects of the agreement, which remains the overriding priority of the Government.
I compliment the Minister, Deputy Andrews, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, on their tremendous success in the peace process. The Minister said the ministerial council will be in place from 31 October. Will he outline the mechanisms through which the council will work? When will the implementation bodies be set up and will they have initiation powers?
I hope the shadow Executive will be set up in early September and that representatives of the Executive will meet the Government to identify and agree at least six areas for the implementation bodies by the deadline of 31 October.
Will the implementation bodies have initiation powers?
The Attorney General is currently examining whether it will be necessary to legislate for the North-South ministerial council, but I understand the implementation bodies may have implementing powers.
Has any thought been given to how the British-Irish parliamentary body will operate? I understand it will include representatives of the Scottish and Welsh assemblies.
A very active committee, headed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, is examining those matters. Work in ongoing on all the areas required to be implemented under the British-Irish Agreement. I support the thrust of the Deputy's question. It is important that we concentrate on the interparliamentary aspect of the multi-party agreement. I am sure the Deputy will agree the interparliamentary body set up under the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement worked exceptionally well. It brought together British and Irish parliamentarians to break down suspicions. It brought together groups of people who did not know one another. I was a founding member of that interparliamentary body which did, and continues to do, magnificent work. I would like to think this would be an addition to, rather than a substitute for, that body. I am glad the Deputy asked that question.
Given the need for inclusiveness in Northern Ireland, I am sure the Minister will agree the PUP and the UDP made an important contribution to the peace process to date. While I join the Minister in welcoming the meeting of the shadow Assembly yesterday, it was a poor day because of the absence of representatives of the UDP, in particular, Mr. Gary McMichael. Will the Minister try to find a role in the process for him as he represents an important strand in the process?
I agree Gary McMichael made an enormous contribution to the peace process. On a personal note, I am disappointed David Adams was not elected. I do not wish to ruin his political prospects in the North, but I got on extremely well with him. I also had very good relations with the so-called loyalist political parties who were present. It is unfortunate Gary McMichael was not elected. I will take account of what the Deputy said and continue to bring him within the atmosphere of the process.
What will be the substantive matter of the six areas? When does the Minister see a role for this House in discussing the areas involved, for example, co-operation in matters of broadcasting?
That would be one of the items considered in the context of the implementation bodies. The question of the Irish language, tourism, economic development, agriculture and many other areas will come within the remit of the implementation bodies.