Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This committee has been existence for three or four years. From my experience, this is the most serious meeting we have held; it is heartbreaking. As a committee, we should avoid being political between ourselves. I think of all the people who work morning, noon and night to consolidate the peace process. We met Dr. Haass in the early days of his engagement and could feel his optimism, but there was heartbreak at the end. I put it down to the British Government and its reluctance to put its shoulder to the wheel. If the issue involved the mainland - I used that word before and got into trouble for it - the UK Prime Minister would not be so distant from it. This committee is responsible for monitoring implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and we have to take these issues by the scruff of the neck. I blame the two Governments. I have to be political now by pointing out that the late Albert Reynolds put the screws on President Clinton who, in turn, gave John Major a good push to make progress in the North. That has to happen again. Dr. Haass was left helpless because the British Government did not support him. Deputy Brendan Smith referred to the lack of serious business at the Executive, which is caught up in petty squabbles, rather than taking the core issues by the scruff of the neck.

We have met Jackie McDonald. The loyalist people feel they are floundering and have no leadership. The bottom line is that they feel ostracised by people in the North. The leaders want to consolidate the peace process, but the people in their backyard are critical of them.

I am glad that we heard from the delegates. For my part and on behalf of my colleagues, I will do everything I can to help them. All of a sudden, it will break out again and there will be more moaning and groaning. We know that it is serious on the ground because some people are bursting to get involved in trouble. I would love if the committee could make a statement today that we believe there should be integrated education. Unless children go to school together, we cannot expect them to have open minds to the other side. We need to go for broke in the media today. The Chairman does not have to give out about his own party, but he could on this issue. It is vital to the peace process that we act more speedily. Instead of taking a medium-term view, we should be taking action now. I am emotionally upset having heard what the delegates had to say. On behalf of all the people, North and South, who invested their efforts in the peace process, I am disappointed that it is languishing because of the failure of governments, including the failure of the American Government to put the screws on Mr. David Cameron and support Dr. Haass whose heart was in the right place.