Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

During my meeting with the Ulster research group we discussed the ongoing difficulties and the attacks on Nationalists. That issue is of ongoing concern. The group is forthcoming in its condemnation, particularly of pipe bomb attacks. It is not always possible for it to control all of these issues and there are disparate groups and individuals. However, the leadership of the group is opposed to these activities, wants nothing to do with them and does all it can to control them. In fairness to the group, there are also practical difficulties. It is not an holistic organisation which can control everything in a way that would satisfy everyone. It condemns activities and the situation, including UDA activities, is better than it was. There are also tensions within the organisation. We saw after the group met me that people expressed concerns at it being involved in such meetings. Those pressures are evident.

The issue of ending paramilitarism has not been dealt with. We have still not reach a conclusion on that issue. The discussions and work which have continued since the act of completion speech of autumn 2002 has yet to be completed. Progress is being made, the Joint Declaration has set out some of the positions but we must still reach an end of that process. I hope it will be dealt with successfully because until that happens, there will continue to be concerns — some real, some factual, some based on uncertainty about who is involved. Until there is a final settlement and we see this issue as part of the overall Agreement, it will continue to poison the negotiations. That is the reality. We can wish it to go away but we all know that wishing will not make that happen.

Many of the operational issues regarding the working of the Agreement by the DUP, the UUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party can be dealt with in the review but we still must deal with those two key issues. In the winter of 1997-98 we used say there were only 72 issues and that situation continued for a long time. There are now two issues. The first is the end to paramilitarism. I agree with Deputy Ó Caoláin that this means and end to paramilitarism in its totality and on all sides. The second issue is the total respect for everyone's mandate. Everyone must respect everyone else. I believe this issue can be dealt with satisfactorily. It is well set down now and there is not much need to do any more in terms of setting it down. The Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and I have made different statements but their meanings are much the same. We have set out how we believe that could happen. I do not wish to go into every chapter and paragraph we have set down because that can be counter-productive. Nevertheless, it is all there. If that issue is dealt with there can be no reason for anyone to refuse to work on the basis of consent and participation in a devolved executive. I accept that is easier to say than to do, but that is the reality. It is the end of the review looking at the working aspects of the Agreement to see how it can be improved. I accept there are many areas in which we can do that.

Regarding the DUP, which is now a large party, I have already said that it did well with its four principles on which it stood in the election, increasing its mandate, and increasing it further with the defections from the UUP. The DUP stated it stood in the election on the platformof stability, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness. I said I had no problem with any of those issues, provided the DUP also added an inclusive agreement. On that basis we should be able to make progress if we can deal with the other two issues. It is a question of whether we can deal with those issues. If we do not deal with them, I cannot see an agreement being finalised, because it is clear the review will not deal with them.

See this speech in context