Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this vital debate and to express my full support for the Government motion. It is of the utmost importance, at this difficult time for the peace process, not to lose sight of the need to uphold the Good Friday Agreement, to consolidate the progress already made and to seek to achieve its full implementation.

As a Member of this House representing a Border constituency, I am very conscious of the real and marked change which has been brought about since the signing of the Agreement in 1998. It is a matter of deep personal regret to me that this progress should be in any way delayed and that the full implementation of the Agreement should be impeded by the ongoing failure to decommission illegal arms and to end, once and for all, paramilitary and criminal activity. This is simply not acceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.

Tremendous work was done by the Government last autumn in working with the British Government and the parties towards the achievement of a comprehensive agreement. This would have seen the restoration of the power-sharing Executive, the Assembly and the North-South Ministerial Council. I recall very well the great sense of optimism for the future, which pervaded the atmosphere at the time.

I have been a long-standing member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body and its steering committee. Contacts, both British and Irish, made through that body have always reinforced for me the very broad, popular and cross-party support, which exists for the Good Friday Agreement and for its complete implementation. Last October, at a time when the Governments were engaged in extensive talks with the parties, I co-chaired a meeting of the body in Wales. The mood at that meeting was most optimistic and hopeful, and the fair wind behind the effort to reach comprehensive agreement at that time was obvious to all. It will be a tremendous loss if these hopes cannot be realised.

As well as the encouragement received from the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, the peace process in this country has also benefited from the support and solidarity of many friends overseas. The continuing support of the United States for the Government's work in pursuit of lasting peace and stability in Northern Ireland simply cannot be underestimated. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in Washington this week to discuss recent developments. The Minister is also engaging with key contacts in the US Administration and in Congress this week as well as in the Irish-American community. Such contacts have been invaluable in promoting progress over many years. As many Members are aware, the Taoiseach will visit Washington on St. Patrick's Day and we look forward to this valuable tradition continuing in the years to come.

See this speech in context