Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 3

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

117 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding his contacts with the various political parties and groups in Northern Ireland regarding the need for the immediate scheduling of the postponed Northern Ireland Assembly elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21585/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Over the past few weeks I have met a number of the pro-Agreement parties, including the UUP, the SDLP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party. In addition, my officials have been in recent contact with the PUP and the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and we hope to meet these parties at political level in the very near future.

In all of these contacts, the Government has stressed the need for early elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The two Governments and the pro-Agreement parties are working together to create the conditions for elections to take place in an atmosphere conducive to the earliest possible restoration of the devolved institutions. Such an atmosphere would require the key outstanding issues of confidence to be satisfactorily addressed.

As the Taoiseach has stated, this means that it must be made clear to all concerned that paramilitary activity is at an end for good. At the same time, all pro-Agreement parties must demonstrate that they are fully committed to all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and that they will fully participate to ensure sustained and fully operational institutions.

There is a relatively short period of time available to achieve these objectives and the Government is determined to intensify work in the coming weeks. I will continue to meet and maintain contact with all the parties in the days and weeks ahead. However, in the final analysis, the prospects for success are dependent on the willingness and ability of the relevant parties to take the necessary steps required to instil in one another the mutual confidence that is required to move the process forward. It is important to remember that the Good Friday Agreement was a collective endeavour and all of the pro-Agreement parties have, therefore, a vital contribution to make to ensuring its success into the future.