Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I wholeheartedly welcome the report of General de Chastelain, Fr. Reid and Rev. Good. In welcoming the involvement of everybody who has helped to bring about the verification and the move beyond violence on the part of the Provisional IRA at any rate, and given that the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that contacts with loyalists paramilitaries were being pursued, will the Taoiseach indicate whether any reports can be given as to the success of those contacts or whether there will be any progress in the near to medium term future on loyalist decommissioning?

Does the Taoiseach see as significant the visit by Dr. Paisley to a Roman Catholic school and his strong condemnation of the loyalist violence against that school in his constituency? Does he see further signs of an acceptance by the DUP that we are moving into a new reality? I hope we can be absolute in our condemnation of violence from any quarter.

I understand the independent monitoring commission report is due this month. Does the Taoiseach have any indication of the report's import? Given the suspicion in some Nationalist areas of the IMC's motives, does the Taoiseach believe the remit needs to be broadened to include State collusion and the wider aspect of criminality in some paramilitary activities? Will the Taoiseach indicate if this is on his agenda? Given the feuding in loyalist areas and the need for Sinn Féin to come on board the policing board to play a full part in ensuring normal and effective policing, will the full implementation of the Patten report's recommendations be accelerated?

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