Mr. Michael Culbert:

Literally.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an mhéid a dúirt sé. I will make a couple of points. In terms of what was said about the Good Friday Agreement, we welcomed it with open arms. It heralded the new era. My problem is that I wish I had written part of it. I do not know who wrote it but the part I read out to members, section 5 in Annex B, is weak. It refers to the importance of measures to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into the community. That could mean literally anything. I did not write it. We did not write it. Somebody wrote it but, unfortunately, if it was a shot at goal, it would have hit the bar. It was a good effort.

We would welcome someone giving strong consideration to introducing some sort of legislation, even to highlight the issue. The legislation that mitigates against us in the North is not Stormont legislation. It is British Government Westminster legislation which mitigates against us, therefore, we are powerless to try to influence people. I was delighted the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, emphasised recently that the Good Friday Agreement is a cornerstone in terms of relations between Britain and Ireland. This is part of the Good Friday Agreement and I would welcome some pressure to be put on Government. Sometimes that is inappropriate but I would like something to be done.

After most conflicts internationally, demobilisation, demilitarisation and reintegration into the communities, DDR, is implemented by the combatant forces. That was never done with us. The British Government could not implement it because it could not acknowledge what was happening. Sectarian gangs were interacting with each other. It was not a colonial or anti-colonial struggle as far as the British were concerned.

We understand the basis for the British treating us the way they did but we do not like it. However, we cannot fully understand how the Irish, who have come through so many phases of conflict with the British, cannot attempt to pressurise them into bringing about the change. The most important factor that would underpin any influencing of the British to bring about this change would be the withdrawal of the reasons people have for opposing the peace process. That is a no-brainer as far as we are concerned. It would send a major signal, in the same way the Good Friday Agreement was a major signal that things have changed. However, 20 years on it is the same legislation that is mitigating against us and it is the same restrictions on our lives and that of our families.

I reiterate that anything that could be done would be positive, be it the changing of the wording or even the indicator of attempting to influence the British to change their legislation. We know intelligence is shared internationally. How do the Americans know about us having been in jail? How do the Americans know that some young person is the child of somebody who has been in jail? The intelligence sharing is going on. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States are the four Governments that have the block against us, and they know all about us. A major problem we could face, and it is a possibility, is if Spain, France or Portugal introduce this. Will people be able to holiday in those countries?