Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Yes, objective criteria should be used. Polarisation is not needed in this type of debate. I accept that inequality is wrong no matter where it is found. I made my earlier comments in the context of the type of discrimination against Nationalists, which was endemic for decades in Northern Ireland, being all but eliminated as a result of the legislation now in place. Northern Ireland probably has more legislation on discrimination than any other country in Western Europe and is probably watched more than any other society in that respect. In recent years, significant progress has been made in addressing discrimination against Nationalists and Catholics across all areas.

On the general level of discrimination and inequality, which Deputy Ó Snodaigh also raised, the Government raises these issues time and again. I have raised them at every meeting I have had with the Northern authorities, whether in the person of the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, or his officials, and will raise them again at the British Irish Intergovernmental Body which will meet towards the end of the month.

With regard to my comments on deprivation in loyalist areas, even Deputy Ó Snodaigh will accept that in recent decades many people from loyalist areas have completed their education and moved to the UK. By failing to return they have, to an extent, denuded loyalist areas of people who have advanced in society, leaving behind those who cannot get jobs. In Nationalist communities, on the other hand, those who have obtained third level degrees have remained in Northern Ireland and have been a great resource to their communities not only through their community work but simply by staying in their communities. It is important that we be even-handed in all these matters. These problems are less a result of conflict than social and economic difficulties present in Northern Ireland and perhaps not as stark in the South. They are particularly acute in loyalist communities where people used to be guaranteed jobs for life in industries to which Catholics may not have had access. The fact that this is no longer the case causes difficulties in loyalist areas. We must try to understand the difficulties faced by both communities. We raise these matters with the Northern authorities at every meeting to ensure the principles of the Good Friday Agreement are expressed in legislation.

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