John Bruton
Ceist:27 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting in Dublin on 18 April 2000 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12383/00]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
John Bruton
Ceist:28 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the issues other than those relating to Northern Ireland which he discussed with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair in Dublin on 18 April 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12384/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:29 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he has replied in full to the letter he received from the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr. David Trimble, regarding allegations that members of the Garda Síochána acted as informers for the IRA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12385/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:30 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the official engagements he undertook on his visit to London on 20 April 2000. [12649/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:31 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the discussions, if any, he has had with church leaders on policy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12677/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:32 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions with the Deputy Leader of the SDLP, Mr Seamus Mallon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12679/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:33 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting in Dublin on 18 April 2000 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair. [12743/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:34 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting in London on 20 April 2000 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair. [12744/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:35 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the contacts or discussions he has had with the political parties in Northern Ireland since 19 April 2000; if he will give his assessments based on these contacts for the prospects of the re-establishment of the Executive in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12746/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:36 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the joint meeting he and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair had with Northern Ireland political parties in Downing Street on 2 May 2000. [12747/00]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:37 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach to make a statement on last week's talks with the British Prime Minister and the Northern Ireland political parties; and the progress, if any, made towards the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and institutions. [12809/00]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:38 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the meetings between the British Government and the Pro-Agreement parties on 2 May 2000. [12813/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:39 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting in London on 2 May 2000 with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the leaders of the Northern Ireland political parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12816/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:40 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his visit to Northern Ireland on 3 May 2000 and on the meetings he held there. [12817/00]
Joe Higgins
Ceist:41 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the political parties in Northern Ireland. [12819/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:42 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to Northern Ireland on 4 May 2000; the result of his discussions with the British Prime Minister Mr. Blair; his discussions with parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12937/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:43 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the current round of talks involving the Irish and British governments and the parties in Northern Ireland. [12938/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 to 43, inclusive, together.
Following the meetings referred to by Deputies and numerous other meetings, I am happy to report to the House a major breakthrough.
I am laying before the House a statement issued by both Governments on Friday night last and a letter to the Northern Ireland parties sent by both Governments on Saturday morning.
The statement by both Governments last Friday was responded to by the IRA on Saturday. The British Prime Minister and I welcomed the IRA statement and announced that, following consultations with the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning, Mr. Martii Ahtisaari, the former President of Finland and Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, former Secretary General of the African National Congress, had agreed to head the recurrent inspections of a number of IRA weapons dumps as set out in the IRA statement.
We have, I believe, secured, following weeks and months of intensive discussions and negotiations, a map for the comprehensive implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. In the shorter term, the British Government will bring forward an order to enable the Northern Ireland Assembly and its Executive to be restored by 22 May next, the second anniversary of the referendums that overwhelmingly endorsed the Agreement.
Deputies will, of course, be familiar with the background to the situation. In my statement to this House on 15 February, following the suspension of the institutions, I expressed my disappointment at what had transpired, but I pledged that we would dedicate ourselves to ensuring the earliest possible restoration of the institutions, so that the progress we had all welcomed could be built upon and developed. In the period of their suspension the institutions have been sorely missed and commentators and politicians on all sides have expressed the need for local, accountable governance in Northern Ireland and for the effective operation of the North-South institutions. Senior political figures from Wales and Scotland have looked forward to the activation of the British-Irish Council. It is certainly the case that when difficult regional issues have to be dealt with, it is most appropriate that they be dealt with by representatives who are accountable regionally and who have the best regional knowledge. The many ordinary issues, across the range of economic and social activity, require agreed, democratic decision making and consensus at local level.
Few anticipated the progress achieved in the time when the institutions were in place. We have now regained the opportunity to build on that work and to re-establish the basis that will allow democratic politics to flourish.
Above all, the progress we have made allows us to fulfil the democratic wishes of the people as expressed in the referendums, North and South, following the successful negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement. The people voted then in overwhelming numbers for a new beginning, a new future. In this process there cannot be winners and losers, because that is only storing up trouble for the future. We have now, genuinely, a win situation and the opportunity must be grasped.
Over recent months, we have seen probably the most difficult time in this process. What recent days have shown is that there is a genuine commitment on all sides to work together to find solutions and to confront the difficult issues. I also believe that recent days have shown just how robust the Good Friday Agreement is. The Agreement does provide us with a sound basis for future relationships and governance. Everything in the Agreement, its whole basis and philosophy, is founded on the principles of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust. Our relationships must be based on partnership, equality and mutual respect. There is absolutely no doubt that there will be further difficult times ahead, but we do have the means at our disposal to resolve those difficult issues, if we work in accordance with the principles underpinning the Agreement. We cannot allow a return to the sterile negativity of the past.
It is the obligation of all democrats to ensure that the violence of the past is firmly put behind us and that we achieve a new way forward. In this regard, the IRA statement of Saturday is highly significant. I have always said that the IRA ceasefires and the ceasefires of loyalist paramilitary organisations have made a crucial contribution to the search for peace. But now, the commitment by the IRA, as set out in their statement, to resume contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning; to initiate a process to completely and verifiably put IRA arms beyond use in such a way as to avoid risk to the public and misappropriation by others and ensure maximum public confidence; and the agreement to put in place a confidence-building measure to confirm that weapons are secure are all immensely positive developments. I would like here to express my appreciation to Mr. Martti Ahtisaari and Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, both widely respected international figures, for agreeing to undertake the inspections. We also, of course, look to early commitments by the loyalist paramilitary organisations.
The issue of decommissioning had been a persistent challenge, which had to be addressed satisfactorily. It was also critical that we address issues around the implementation of other aspects of the Agreement. This has now been done over a range of outstanding issues. With regard to security, the British Government will progressively take all the necessary steps to secure as early return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat at the time. The statements of last weekend have been highly significant and, in response, the British Government will be taking further substantial normalisation measures by June 2001. A number of important measures in this regard were announced yesterday, which I warmly welcome. We will, of course, continue to oppose with resolute and determined action any group that uses or threatens violence to disrupt this process and we will take whatever measures are necessary to do so.
We have a timetable for the implementation of the Patten report and the criminal justice review. The need for a new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland is central to the Agreement. It is in the interests of all in Northern Ireland that the police service be able to function fully and freely in all areas and across all communities. People from both communities want to be able to give unqualified support to the police service and want police men and women to be made welcome in every home.
One thing that emerges clearly from the debate on policing is that both communities are committed to realising a police service that is fully effective and representative. The achievement of this objective is absolutely necessary to peace and stability in Northern Ireland and is a crucial part of the implementation of the Agreement as a whole.
It is also in everyone's interest that the criminal justice system delivers a fair and impartial service, is responsive to the needs and concerns of communities, and has the confidence to deliver an efficient and effective service.
With regard to rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, incorporation of the EHCR into British and Irish domestic law will take effect from October 2000. This will require legislation in this jurisdiction. As Deputies will be aware, the Human Rights Commission Bill is before this House and the Irish Commission on Human Rights will be established in July 2000, so that the Joint Committee of both Human Rights Commissions required under the Agreement will therefore be established by the end of July 2000. The British Government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000 and significant measures relating to the Irish language will also be taken.
Following last Friday and Saturday's statements, it is up to all of us to ensure that the resto ration of all of the institutions provided for in the Agreement becomes a reality. I would call on the pro-Agreement parties to respond positively to recent developments. I welcome the positive reactions we have already seen, even if tinged with caution in some cases. I would also urge all those in civic society, who have done so much to support the process from the start, to once again lend their support. Some have already done so. I welcome in particular the statements by the two Primates and by the Group of 7 in Northern Ireland. We have a unique opportunity to pursue democratic politics constructively, for the betterment of everyone on this island and on these islands. We have the opportunity to build trust between parties and between communities. We have the opportunity to work together for the sake of all our futures. The alternative would not bring about a better situation for anyone but those who seek a return to confrontation and mutual distrust. And it is only in that atmosphere that extremism and violence can flourish.
I would like here to pay tribute to all of those who have worked so hard in recent weeks. Prime Minister Blair, Secretary of State Mandelson, my colleagues, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, the Attorney-General, and Minister of State O'Donnell, all of the pro-Agreement parties and officials of both Governments, who worked tirelessly and intensively on this process. I would likewise like to pay tribute to the smaller parties, the Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition and the PUP and UDP for their constructive contributions. I would also like to thank Deputies in this House for their assistance. Once again President Clinton and his Administration have been unstinting in their support, including through the issuing of statements after the Government's statement last Friday and the IRA statement last Saturday.
The result of all of our efforts is that people have moved and we have made hugely significant progress. The story of this process to date has been one of historic achievement and periods of profound frustration. I believe that we are now in a position to move to a new phase of political stability and steady economic and social progress within a framework that can deliver true equality. The constitutional and institutional issues are agreed. The process of change is actively under way. We must all seize the opportunity and build the future together.
Apart from the ongoing formal and informal contacts with political representatives, the Government endeavour to keep in touch with the broadest possible spectrum of opinion in Northern Ireland. In this regard, I and my office continue to avail of the good services of individual clergy and community leaders to help further the cause of peace, stability and reconciliation. They have an important role to play and I have always valued their support, as on this occasion. However, I have not had any formal meetings with Church leaders recently.
On 13 April the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, in reply to Priority Questions, said that the Garda Commissioner had asked a senior officer to investigate the allegations that had been made about gardaí in relation to a number of murders. I replied to the letter I received from David Trimble on the matter on 14 April and I conveyed this information to him.