Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
20 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the report he has received from the British authorities of the circumstances in which a person was kidnapped from a public house in Belfast and violently assaulted on Friday, 20 February 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Taoiseach informed the House on 25 February, it was the view of the Northern Ireland security forces that by ramming the vehicle the PSNI had saved the individual's life. At that time it was the clear view of the Chief Constable that the people involved in the incident were members of the Provisional IRA. This view was subsequently confirmed at senior official level at a meeting convened by the secretariat of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Four individuals are now before the courts facing serious criminal charges as a result of this incident.
In response, and reflecting its seriousness, the Irish and British Governments issued a joint statement which expressed our deep concern at the serious impact it had on the Review of the Good Friday Agreement. Both Governments made clear that the achievement of a sustainable basis for political progress in Northern Ireland requires a full and a permanent cessation of all paramilitary activity. We also made clear that the core issues of completion of the transition to exclusively democratic means and securing the commitment of all parties to stable political institutions are inextricably linked. Both Governments are now determined to intensify our engagement with the parties to achieve this end.
In the joint statement the Governments reported that they had asked the Independent Monitoring Commission to examine these events in the context of its first report and to bring that report forward from July. As the Deputy is aware, the two Governments established the Independent Monitoring Commission with the purpose of ensuring compliance with a number of key commitments to the Agreement. The two Governments have asked the IMC to consider the events of 20 February in the context of the preparation of its first report. This report is expected to cover all incidents and activities within its remit since the commission was established in early January, and will now be issued early next month.
