Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 19 January 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh

Photo of Niall BlaneyNiall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. We should invite Mr. Kirwan back some day, off the record, to get an in-depth outline of all those stories he has from years gone by and the experience he has had over the years in meeting many key people who helped build our current peace process.

I offer sincere thanks to Mr. Kirwan, Dr. Mansergh and Dr. McKee for the work they have done over the years, along with their colleagues in the Departments of Foreign Affairs, and the Taoiseach, or whatever it might have been, under whatever regime was in place.

Most of them went above and beyond the call of duty in the service they provided to the State in preparation for bringing peace to this island. We hope it is an everlasting peace. I know there is an awful lot of work to be done in the time ahead to move things on to the next level but fantastic foundations have been laid by the work the officials have done.

My first question is for Dr. McKee. He spoke about working towards the peace process and the continuity of expertise in the Department of Foreign Affairs. He also spoke about the work done in preparation for the talks on the Good Friday Agreement and how necessary it was. There is an awful lot of talk at present about constitutional change on the island. What is his opinion of things today? Does he feel much work is needed on the ground to prepare for this constitutional change? What is his opinion of the work of the shared island unit? What is his opinion more generally of other parties and contributors on this? Does he feel we are going in the right direction? Recognising that the work on the Good Friday Agreement was led by the two Governments, is the shared island unit the right way to go? Are we giving it the support it deserves?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.