Gay Mitchell
Ceist:1 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the situation in the Northern Ireland peace process. [25683/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Good Friday Agreement.
As the House is aware, this has been a momentous week in the peace process and in the history of our island. Today, the British-Irish Agreement entered into force on the exchange of notifications between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State, confirming that all the necessary requirements had been completed. The North-South Ministerial Council, the Implementation Bodies, the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference have, therefore, all now been established.
The entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement automatically obliged the Government to give effect to the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution which were approved by the people last year. The Government this morning made the necessary declaration.
Under the terms of the British Northern Ireland Act, 1998, at midnight last night an order devolving legislative and executive powers to Northern Ireland took effect. Devolved executive powers will be exercised by the First Minister, Mr. David Trimble, the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Séamus Mallon, and the ten Ministers nominated on Monday under the d'Hondt procedure. I understand that the Executive Committee met for the first time this morning.
New British legislation governing the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, as provided for in the Agreement, has also taken effect. In addition, the IRA is today appointing an authorised representative to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. I believe we are at the beginning of a new era of lasting peace and partnership on the island of Ireland.
As the House will know, none of these developments would have been possible without the success of the Mitchell review. Senator Mitchell's patience, determination and judgment were remarkable and he richly deserves our thanks and those of the people. All the pro-Agreement parties showed courage, vision and leadership. In particular, the UUP and Sinn Féin had to take and stand by difficult decisions and the SDLP provided vital and balanced insight and support.
I share Senator Mitchell's belief that we will now see the full implementation of all aspects of the Agreement, including decommissioning. The independent commission is the agreed mechanism for taking this forward and it should now be allowed to proceed with its work.
We are determined to ensure the success of each and all of the institutions and other arrangements. The North-South Ministerial Council met yesterday in shadow form to agree a number of technical and procedural matters. The inaugural plenary meeting of the council will take place in Armagh on Monday, 13 December, when our delegation will be led by the Taoiseach. I expect that this meeting will consider a range of matters, including the council's future work programme and aspects of the Implementation Bodies, including their locations. The British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will have their first meetings shortly afterwards.
I offer my best wishes to the Minister of State and the Government for the continued success of these historic developments. It is a great day to be Irish and to be a Member of this House. I hope the Minister of State will join me in singling out Mr. John Hume for his great contribution. His name has not been mentioned as much as it might have been in recent days.
Does the Minister of State agree in the context of the North-South and east-west elements of the process, which are intertwined and related, that a state visit by the British monarch would be most welcome? Will she confirm that such a visit is on the cards?
I thank Deputy Mitchell for his congratulations. The achievements this week are a testament to the work of this and previous Governments. Mr. John Hume has been central to that political development on the island of Ireland.
In relation to Deputy Mitchell's suggestion regarding a visit by the monarch, Queen Elizabeth, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, is meeting the Queen today with the President in London. At this stage of political development in Ireland and given the new relationships which have been put in place between the two islands as outlined by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, in his address to the Houses of the Oireachtas last year, there is no reason such a visit by the monarch should not take place. I understand some plans are in train in that regard and I would warmly welcome such a development.
Will the Minister of State confirm that Ministers will be accountable to the House in relation to their involvement in the North-South ministerial bodies?
Yes. The issue of accountability was to the forefront in the negotiations on Strand Two with the Northern Ireland parties. It was imperative that the bodies would be accountable to the respective parliamentary assemblies. I confirm that the line Ministers, such as those with responsibility for agriculture and transport, who will be involved in discussions with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on a range of co-operation and implementation measures, will at all times be accountable to the House. Similarly, the Ministers engaged in discussions in the North-South Ministerial Council will be accountable to the devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland.