Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 34, inclusive, together.

Last week, in the course of Private Members' business, we had the opportunity to address comprehensively developments in the peace process, and the agreed motion received the overwhelming endorsement of the parties in this House. Without restating the text of that motion, it is clear that we all want to protect and develop the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement and to continue to work to secure its full implementation.

The agreement must form the basis of a lasting settlement in Northern Ireland. The Government's proposals published in December addressed the key issues that we had identified as being necessary to make progress. Regrettably, however, we could not secure agreement on two key issues: an end to all forms of paramilitary and criminal activity, and decommissioning.

The Northern Bank robbery brought into sharp relief the need to address and resolve these key issues if trust is to be restored. That was the emphatic message that the Government conveyed to the Sinn Féin leadership when we met in January. The same clear message was imparted by Prime Minister Blair and it was the message that both Governments conveyed publicly after we met in Downing Street on 1 February.

At my meeting with the Prime Minister, I raised with him the issue of an apology for the Conlon and Maguire families and I am grateful to him for his prompt response. I also raised our concerns about the British response to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of the early 1970s and separate questions have been tabled on this issue. The Prime Minister and I will continue to meet as and when necessary.

The two Governments published the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Commission whose representatives I met recently. The conclusions drawn by the independent commission concur with the intelligence available to both Governments concerning the Northern Bank robbery and other incidents in Northern Ireland. The findings of the report underline the clear need for the issue of IRA paramilitarism, including all forms of criminal activity, to be resolved satisfactorily once and for all.

At my most recent meetings with the parties, we discussed recent developments and possible ways of moving the process forward. Both I and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, will continue our contacts with them in the period ahead.

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