Austin Currie
Ceist:102 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the Northern Ireland peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24149/01]
Priority Questions. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Following our intensive discussions with the parties at Weston Park in July, the two Governments put a package of proposals to the parties at the beginning of August which we believe can deliver the full and early implementation of outstanding aspects of the Agreement. We have since been working to secure further progress.
On policing, we have reached a situation where appointments, including representatives of both communities, have now been made to the new policing board and a chair and vice-chair have been appointed. I am disappointed that all parties did not feel able to make nominations at this point. As I have said before, and as I firmly believe, all that is now available can, if implemented, comprehensively deliver the spirit and the substance of Patten. I commend the parties that have made nominations and I hope that when they see how matters evolve, others will also decide to come on board.
On the institutions and on decommissioning, however, the situation remains less clear. Deputies will be aware that having failed to have a motion to exclude Sinn Féin passed by the Assembly and having withdrawn its Ministers from the Executive, the UUP has said its members will now resign from the Executive. This would be a most serious development. It is crucial that all parties ensure the institutions are allowed to operate fully, on a stable and inclusive basis.
On decommissioning, and while the agreement reached between the IRA and the Independent Commission on Decommissioning in August on a method for putting arms beyond use was a hugely important development, the decision to take it off the table was disappointing. The Government, however, took considerable encouragement from the subsequent IRA statement in which it undertook to intensify its engagement with the commission. The reality remains that, as the Governments said at Weston Park, putting arms beyond use is an indispensable part of implementing the Good Friday Agreement, and this matter must be resolved in a manner acceptable to and verified by the Independent Commission.
There is clearly an urgent need to make immediate progress. We need, in particular, to see early and tangible progress on the putting of arms beyond use to the satisfaction of the commission and we need to see the stability of the institutions secured. In the ugly events in the streets of north Belfast, and in the callous and cowardly murder of the journalist, Martin O'Hagan – events that compelled the Secretary of State to conclude that the UDA, UFF and LVF are no longer observing ceasefires – we are starkly reminded of the dangers of allowing a political vacuum to develop. Political drift can only play into the hands of those who seek to raise tensions and to bring the Agreement down.
It is vital that confidence and momentum be restored and that all parties, collectively and individually, do all in their power to overcome the present impasse and to demonstrate to all sides that politics can be made to work, including in the critical demilitarisation area. The Government will remain in close contact with the parties and the British Government to see what more can be done to advance the situation.
I join with those tributes that have already been paid in the House to political leaders in the North who have already or who are about to stand down from leadership positions. In this regard, Seán Neeson played an honourable role as leader of the Alliance Party. I wish his successor, David Ford, every success in his new role.
I need hardly inform the House of the enormously high regard in which John Hume and Séamus Mallon are held throughout the country. In their long political careers, they have played an incomparable part in helping us to secure a just and lasting peace on this island. Redoubling our efforts to build on their work and to see the Agreement implemented in full must surely be the best and most appropriate tribute we can pay them.
I join in the tributes paid to John Hume, Séamus Mallon and Seán Neeson. Does the Minister agree that the leadership of the SDLP, in particular, did something tremendous for this country and these islands, especially in the years when, if the provisional republic movement had been able to claim a mandate from the Nationalist people of Northern Ireland, the situation would have been much worse? In those circumstances, the SDLP held that line.
The Minister will be aware of the widespread speculation that a start is about to begin to putting weapons beyond use. I am not sure from where that speculation is coming. Does he agree that the most recent speculation was from the Archbishop of Armagh this morning? Given that some individual or organisation is spreading this word, does the Minister know from where it is coming and does he believe it to be accurate? If, hopefully, it happens, does he believe it will be sufficient for political progress to recommence?
On policing, I am sure the Minister shares my disappointment that it was not possible for Sinn Féin to either join the policing board or to advise its supporters to do so. Does the Minister agree that the probability is that there was never any intention on the part of Sinn Féin to do either of those things? In the republican heartland I know best, in east and south Tyrone, there is no belief among mainline republicans that such was the intention. Does the Minister accept there must be such a doubt in relation to that matter?
It is open for people to be sceptical and to remain convinced as regards this step in terms of actual decommissioning and the need for it to occur. People can have their doubts if they wish based on their experiences or their understanding of the situation. It is true that in the implementation of this indispensable part of the Agreement, we are talking about historic shifts being made by people who in the past have perhaps indicated that there was no prospect, certainly prior to negotiating the Good Friday Agreement. However, efforts are being made to ensure the Agreement is implemented in all its aspects, including on this issue.
We have seen at times – too often perhaps – an attempt to relegate this Agreement to a single item agenda, which it is not. By the same token, it is not possible to suggest that the Agreement does not include this item. Given the Deputy's own experience, it would, therefore, be better for us to wait and see if those who have influence in these matters can bring the necessary trust and confidence that is absent back into the process and that there would be reciprocation on the other side regarding its commitment to work to the full the institutions as envisaged and as agreed in the Good Friday Agreement. The reduction of the security threat that would represent would accelerate further normalisation measures, particularly in the areas of demilitarisation.