Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 35, inclusive, together.

When the Government met the Sinn Féin leadership in January, we made it clear that there needed to be an end to all paramilitary and criminal activity and IRA decommissioning had to be completed. This was essential if there was to be any real prospect of re-establishing momentum in the peace process and ensuring the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

On 28 July the IRA stated that it would end its armed campaign. I welcomed that statement. I also made clear that words had to be borne out by actions.

As Deputies will know, the Irish and British Governments received a report from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning on 26 September. This report confirmed that the commission had overseen the completion of IRA decommissioning and that the IRA has now placed the totality of its arsenal beyond use. Very large quantities of weapons were involved. In our joint statement, Prime Minister Blair and I warmly welcomed this landmark development.

The work of General de Chastelain and his team on the IICD is greatly appreciated. The independent witnesses, Reverend Harold Good and Fr. Alex Reid, have also made an enormously valuable contribution to the process. These are all men of integrity. Their words were clear and very welcome. They have done the people of this island a great service. We are relieved that this difficult chapter of the peace process can now be closed.

Many people have suffered through the use of these weapons. This suffering should not have happened. We cannot forget our sad and tragic past. We cannot undo damage done, but I hope we can also look forward with renewed hope and promise.

I appreciate that some people remain to be convinced regarding the decommissioning of IRA weapons. However, I have urged that the importance of the IICD statement regarding IRA decommissioning should not be underestimated.

The next report of the Independent Monitoring Commission will be published this month. This will give an indication of progress on the ending of IRA paramilitary and criminal activity. There will be a further IMC report in January. I hope these reports will confirm IRA paramilitary and criminal activity has ended. If this happens, it will certainly boost trust and confidence and greatly enhance the prospects of political progress.

In welcoming IRA decommissioning, we have also emphasised the need for progress on completing the decommissioning of loyalist weapons. We hope loyalist paramilitary groups will engage with the IICD and that weapons from these groups can also be put beyond use as soon as possible.

The Government remains in ongoing contact with all the parties in Northern Ireland. I have meetings scheduled this month with the SDLP and the Alliance Party. I also hope to meet the DUP and the UUP in the coming period.

In addition to ongoing close contacts between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the Northern Secretary at official level, I met the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, in London on 27 June. I will meet the Prime Minister again next week to review the current situation. I met the SDLP on 29 July and we discussed political developments, including the IRA's statement that had been released only the day before.

I met Sinn Féin on 23 September. At that meeting, I reiterated the message that we needed to see completion of decommissioning and an end to criminality and all paramilitary activity. We also discussed recent violence in Northern Ireland and how momentum in the peace process could be restored. An issue of central importance in ongoing discussions with Sinn Féin is the question of its support for policing in Northern Ireland. In the new situation that arises out of the IRA statement of 28 July and the decommissioning of IRA weapons, this must now be a key priority. We have made it clear that there is no justification for denying full support for policing and that early progress in this area is essential.

I am very concerned by the spate of sectarian attacks in communities in Belfast, north Antrim and elsewhere. The Minister for Foreign Affairs met representatives from many of these communities a number of times recently and heard at first hand the details of these attacks. The loyalist violence in recent weeks has been among the most serious seen for many years in Northern Ireland. I unreservedly condemn all of this violence and have called on all other political and community leaders to do likewise. I have also called for strong leadership. This must come first from the Unionist and loyalist parties, although everybody has a role to play in addressing these problems.

The US Government continues to play an important and welcome role. I recently met Mitchell Reiss, President Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland, when he visited Dublin. I briefed him on the current political situation. I know that he and the US Administration have been following recent developments closely and have welcomed them. I do not have any current plans to visit the United States.

The Government had no advance notice of the return of the so-called Colombia Three, nor was the matter raised in any discussions with Sinn Féin. Following their return, I instructed my officials to brief the Colombian, American and British authorities on the Government's position. We have stressed that the Government will meet any international legal obligations arising in this case. The Minister for Foreign Affairs recently met his Colombian colleagues in New York and availed of this opportunity to reiterate this point directly. As regards any breach of Irish law, the matter is now an operational one for the Garda Síochána and, as appropriate, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and will be dealt with in accordance with due process.

Sinn Féin has confirmed that the content of the newspaper article of 5 August by the Sinn Féin leader regarding Oireachtas participation by Northern MPs was exaggerated. I will write to the other party leaders shortly with proposals on this matter and seek their views on these proposals. The proposals, which relate to both Houses, will be faithful to the recommendations of the all-party committee report. This House will ultimately decide for itself how it wishes to proceed. There is no question of granting Northern Ireland MPs any rights and privileges in this House.

Deputies will be aware that both Governments are committed to dealing with the question of so-called on-the-runs, OTRs, in the context of a verified end to all IRA paramilitary and criminal activity. Proposals will be made towards the end of this year. Any such proposals will not apply to anyone involved in the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. I have already made it clear that there will be no early release for those already serving sentences for that crime. The question of further sessions of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation will be kept under review.

I met the family of the late Joseph Rafferty on 27 September and told them that I would again raise their concerns with the Sinn Féin leader when we next met and would pass on their concerns to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The question of charges and court proceedings against the person or persons responsible for the murder are operational matters for the appropriate authorities.

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