Vol. 533 No. 2
5 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress being made in the peace process following his most recent discussions with British and Northern Ireland political leaders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8276/01]
As Deputies will be aware, following several months of intensive discussions, the two Governments – led by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair – and the pro-Agreement parties in Northern Ireland met in Hillsborough on 8 March. While our talks did not enable us to reach a complete and comprehensive resolution of the issues we face, we had a very useful and productive exchange of views. Throughout a long day, it was obvious that, although several continue to face difficulties within their respective constituencies, all of the pro-Agreement parties remain firmly committed to securing the full implementation of the Agreement and are acting in good faith in their efforts to secure that outcome.
At the end of our discussions, the two Governments issued a statement setting out a framework for continuing work, which would help increase momentum behind the implementation of the Agreement, and we urged all concerned to respond positively.
Our statement welcomed the IRA's announcement that it intended to enter into further discussions with the International Commission on Decommissioning and expressed our view that discussions should start promptly and should lead to agreement on the ways in which arms will be put completely and verifiably beyond use. We also said that we looked forward to receiving early and positive reports from the commission.
The IRA's announcement that it has since met with the commission is, therefore, to be welcomed. However, as I have said before, it is important not only that these discussions take place but that they lead to meaningful progress. A positive report from the commission would make an important contribution to building confidence and to enabling us to make progress across the range of issues.
There can be little doubt that continuing progress on the scaling back of British military installations, particularly in some high profile and sensitive locations, will also help us to unlock difficulties elsewhere. In our joint statement, the British Government restated its commitment of May 2000 to continue progressively to take all the necessary steps to secure as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements, consistent with the level of threat, on which it will consult the Irish Government.
Our statement also acknowledged that there is an issue to be addressed in relation to supporters of organisations, now on ceasefire, against whom outstanding prosecutions in relation to offences committed before the Agreement remain in place. Such people would, if convicted, stand to benefit from the early release scheme under the Agreement. We accepted that, in the context of implementation of what was agreed at Hillsborough last year, it would be a natural development of the scheme for such prosecutions not to be pursued and that we would intend as soon as possible thereafter to take such steps as are necessary to resolve this difficulty.
Our discussions over recent months have enabled genuine progress to be made towards achieving the type of police service envisaged in the Agreement – one capable of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a whole and which young people from all backgrounds can feel comfortable about joining. As our statement made clear, the two Governments are fully committed to that vision and are aware of concerns as to whether the British legislation and plans for implementation respect the letter and spirit of the Patten report. Discussions will now continue with a view to reaching agreement, hopefully, by June.
Our statement reiterates that it continues to be essential that the full operation of the institutions under the Agreement – including the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council – resume and that the institutions continue their important work. Therefore, the Governments undertook to do all in their power to sustain their full operation, including during any formal review of the Agreement should that prove necessary. We also called on others to do likewise.
We will continue to work closely with the British Government and with the pro-Agreement parties in the period ahead.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Like him, I welcome the progress that has been made but I regret that in certain areas the progress has been limited.
The Minister and I would agree that policing is a central issue. While I welcome the SDLP's response in terms of the progress it accepts has been made, will he indicate whether Sinn Féin is still insisting it cannot agree to a policing solution without changes in the legislation? Surely it knows that is out of the question, particularly with the Westminster election on the horizon. Why is it insisting on changes in legislation, if it still is? Will the Minister indicate why the emphasis is on June? He mentioned June in his reply and I have heard it in other quarters as well.
In relation to putting arms beyond use, I welcome the renewed meetings with de Chastelain but regret that the IRA said it had met him to "set the basis for discussions". Surely things should be far beyond setting the basis for discussions. It is rather like talks about talks at this stage.
I note the Minister met relatives of the Omagh victims the other evening. Will he indicate whether he supports the civil action they are taking and would he encourage people to contribute financially to that? The Minister referred to what are described as the OTRs, those on the run, and the partial agreement in relation to that. While such agreement is being reached on those people on the run, will he indicate what the republican view is to the return of those who have been exiled by that movement? People have been forced out of the country, sometimes for no other reason than they had a disagreement with the local provo mafia.
On the policing question, a lot of the discussions on the outstanding issues are linked in that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. A very intensive attempt was made since the new year to try to get a comprehensive agreement on all these issues. It is true that there are still outstanding matters as far as Sinn Féin is concerned that would require some legislative change. It is true to say that it is unrealistic that would happen before the forthcoming British election expected to be held in May. The reason June is mentioned is that we have had a lot of these discussions already and we hope to complete our discussions by June. We are, therefore, into a new parliamentary term – it is post-UK election time. The question of whether we can come to a comprehensive agreement that will meet the requirements of everybody remains to be seen but that is the idea in terms of the discussions which are ongoing.
As Deputy Currie, more than many others here, would be aware, the arbiters of whether we have what is required in relation to policing will be the people on the ground. While I welcomed the publication of the police Bill last summer, I felt there were areas in which work would need to be done and improvements would have to be made. The adversarial nature of the legislative process meant that some amendments by the SDLP were accepted while others were not. Some very critical amendments were not accepted. They remain to be accepted. There has been progress in respect of certain matters and there has been an ability to discuss, in the context of the implementation plan, issues which might be addressed through that vehicle rather than having to be addressed legislatively but there are others that probably require some legislative change. There are certain commitments and understandings on various issues including flags, emblems and other matters which are, as the Deputy would be aware, of crucial importance in terms of whether people recognise there is a new beginning in relation to policing. There are outstanding issues in relation to cases which are well known, on which the SDLP has a particular view and which have yet to be addressed adequately as far as it is concerned. There is a number of issues.
As regards the Sinn Féin issues, the question of the accountability mechanisms, how they interact, the powers of the chief constable and the powers of the police board, there are still some discussions in the areas for improvement. Similarly, as the Deputy will know, the issue of district police partnerships is important from its point of view. Basically, we are continuing discussion to try to see if we can sign off in a way which will bring about acceptance by everybody that the policing issue has been dealt with. It is correct, as the Deputy said, that it is of central strategic importance to the success of this peace project. It is, therefore, important that we get it right. The discussions have brought some measure of progress. Improvements have been made as a result of these discussions taking place but more discussion is required.
In relation to the de Chastelain Commission, while we welcome the resumed contact, it is important that we make serious headway in getting agreement on how this issue will be dealt with. One reverts back to the position on 5 May last year when for the first time we had a statement from the IRA confirming the circumstances in which this can happen. The question of full implementation of the agreement in all its aspects is central to the successful outcome of that issue. The discussions we have had since the new year have brought back into focus some of the out standing issues. Clearly, if sufficient progress is made on how this matter will be handled – that is, in a way that will reinforce public confidence, will be transparent and will be satisfactory to everybody as a genuine verification that arms are being put beyond use – it will greatly enhance the prospects of resolving other issues like normalisation.
Clearly the policing and disarmament issues will be central to bringing about normalisation. It is not a question of equivocation or equivalence, it is a question of everybody being satisfied that the outstanding issues will be satisfactorily dealt with. The OTR issue has proven to be a difficult one to resolve legally and appropriate. I reiterate what the Taoiseach said to the Leader of the Opposition yesterday that, of course, we call on everybody to be allowed to return to Northern Ireland without fear of repercussions. That is something that will continue to be put by the Governments to the parties concerned so that the peace process is there for everybody and not just some.
What about Omagh?
I did not meet the relatives of the victims of Omagh.
It is reported in the Irish News.
They are taking a civil action.
I am aware of that. As the Taoiseach said yesterday, obviously we have sympathy with this issue. We are looking to see in what way we can be helpful. Clearly there is a question of the relatives of the victims of Omagh seeking to bring a civil action. That campaign was launched this week, I think, by Paddy Mayhew and Peter Mandelson in London. It is a matter to which we are giving some attention to see in what way we can be helpful. As I said, it would be premature to state what exactly our position would be on that until we have properly examined it and we see where it is going.
That concludes Priority Questions. We have gone way over time. There are six minutes for each question and I would not like to state how long we have spent on this question – it would set a bad example. A brief question.
When I recently asked the Taoiseach about the legislation which Sinn Féin is demanding, he said that legislation may be required some time down the road but not now and that agreement could be reached in advance of legislation. As far as those on the run are concerned, the Minister said there were complications, and I understand that. There are no legal or similar complications in relation to the IRA and the return of people it banished from Northern Ireland. It is just a matter of lifting that sanction or whatever one likes to call it.
I take that point. In relation to the prospect of any further legislative change, the question of the review of the legislation is a matter that is already part of the thinking in the Patten report. Agreement has to be reached as to how these outstanding issues will be dealt with. Commitments from the British Government on how it is going to do this will determine the positive or other response from the Nationalist parties generally. That applies to both the SDLP and Sinn Féin. We must continue to work on these issues. While we have made some progress, we are not there yet.
