Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2013
4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the engagement he has had to date with the Haass talks about flags, parades and legacy issues arising from the Troubles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41480/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra5. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the meeting he had with Dr. Richard Haass while he was in New York; the issues he raised with him; and the conclusions of the meeting. [41166/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
I met Richard Haass in New York last week to discuss his work and the issues he has been asked to address by the Northern Ireland Executive. These issues comprise parades, flags and emblems and the past. Dr. Haass has committed to concluding his work by December and, to that end, he has embarked on an ambitious programme of work. My meeting with him in New York last week followed an earlier telephone conversation on 13 September. Our discussions to date have provided a valuable opportunity to consider these issues and to get his assessment of the way forward. I had met the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, on 23 September in advance of my meeting with Richard Haass on 25 September. When we met, I stressed to Dr. Haass that both Governments were determined to maintain and build on all the hard-won progress that has been achieved in Northern Ireland and that he, vice-chair Meghan O’Sullivan and their team have the full support of the Government in the difficult task that lies ahead.
Following my visit to Belfast on 29 August, I support in particular the wide process of consultation with civic society undertaken by Dr. Haass and Dr. O’Sullivan. A broad spectrum of people who are not part of the political process need to be given an opportunity to contribute to the debate on these difficult societal issues. Civil society has an important role to play in determining the best way forward. I am very pleased, therefore, that more than 100 groups and individuals have made written submissions to the process to date. I encourage all interested individuals and organisations and other representatives of wider society to consider making a written submission to this important process. I look forward to further close contact with Dr. Haass and his team over the coming months, and I hope to welcome him to Dublin during his next round of discussions.
I welcome the appointment of Ambassador Haass and Dr. O'Sullivan and I wish them well in their work. We have been critical of the fact that, over the past 18 months or two years, the political establishment in Northern Ireland has fallen back on the politics of parades and protest when it suits. We must get away from that. This initiative is important in building the next stage of the peace process.
Why is the Government not directly involved in the process? This is the first time in decades the Irish Government is not a participant in important talks. The Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement and other talks prior to those successful negotiations provided for a mutual commitment between this Government and the British Government to advancing the talks. It was very well supported by the United States authorities. Does the Tánaiste intend to be a participant in the talks and, if not, has the Government made a formal submission?
This process was one initiated by the Northern Ireland Executive. That body invited Dr. Richard Haass and his team to chair an all-party group in Northern Ireland to examine the idea of flags, parades and issues relating to the past. In the period leading up to its formation, there was a suggestion that there should be an independent chairman, possibly an international figure. The Northern Ireland Executive invited Dr. Richard Haass to chair the group and I welcome the fact that he has been appointed. The Irish Government intends to be part of the process and, following Dr. Haass's appointment, I spoke with him by telephone. I met him and made arrangements to have an ongoing engagement with him. As part of that process, I had discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The two Governments are involved through that mechanism.
Will the Irish Government make a formal submission to the talks? If so, will it be on the basis of assurances that any Government contributions to such discussions will be premised on the Good Friday Agreement principles of mutual respect, parity of esteem and justice and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both Unionist and Nationalist sections of our community? Would the Minister accept that the peace process itself has been violently attacked over the past number of months, with the shooting of a young woman in east Belfast and attacks on prison officers, police and British soldiers? These have been condemned by the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. Unfortunately, we do not see the same active participation coming from the leaders of Unionism. Does the Tánaiste agree this is one of the difficulties we face in respect of the process? How can the Tánaiste and the Irish Government encourage them to be more vocal?
I am concerned about recent developments in Northern Ireland. I set out that concern comprehensively in the speech I made to the British-Irish Association at Cambridge. I also touched on some of the wider issues and the context, and I referred to the work of Dr. Haass.
We must be very clear in how we react to attacks on the process and the pressure the process is under. The agreements stand and we stand to implement the agreements in full. We support institutions established by the agreements, including the Parades Commission, the determinations made by the Parades Commission and the work the PSNI had to do over the summer in implementing and policing the decisions made by the Parades Commission. Political leaders in Northern Ireland need to be very clear with quick condemnation when there are breaches of the law, when atrocities occur and when violent activity occurs. We cannot allow a situation where there is drift.
It is essential that we avoid the very unwelcome and unacceptable behaviour of last December and January on the parades and flags issue. We cannot have people accepting the determinations of the Parades Commission when it suits them. That message should be made clear to all political leaders in Northern Ireland. Does the Tánaiste know if Dr. Haass proposes to meet with groups from the Republic? We must emphasise continually that our State has a critical role to play in the next critical phase of the peace process.
We have an important long-term strategic interest in the success of the agreements, that were painstakingly put in place and on which so much work was done by so many stakeholders over many years.
Will the Minister be making a formal submission to the Haas talks and will it be based on the contributions of mutual respect for the different ethos of the Nationalists and Unionist communities?
First, I am pleased that Dr. Haas has widened his discussion beyond the political parties in Northern Ireland which are a party to the discussions and involved with civil society.
My understanding is that he does intend to have engagements with the South. He plans on coming to Dublin. I talked with him last week about this and we talked about some dates. He plans on coming, both to Dublin and to London. During those engagements, the Government will have discussions with him.
I have not yet decided whether to make a formal written submission to the process. There will be close engagement and we will be involved with that. Dr. Haas is engaged in the listening process as part of this. I intend to have a discussion with him when he is in Dublin, probably towards the end of October. Arising from that discussion, we will make a decision as to whether we should make a formal written submission or whether it would be more effective to engage with him by way of dialogue. That is something we will settle at a later point.
