Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 30, inclusive, together.

I met Prime Minister Blair in London on 11 October. The meeting offered an early opportunity to review political developments particularly in the aftermath of the decommissioning of their weapons by the IRA at the end of September. Both Governments remain determined to maintain positive momentum in the process and to bring about the restoration of the devolved institutions at the earliest possible date.

The Governments received the latest report of the Independent Monitoring Commission on 14 October and it was published on 19 October. The report focused primarily on the period March to August 2005. Five months of that six month period were prior to the IRA statement but I welcome the IMC's conclusion that the initial signs following the IRA statement are encouraging.

The IMC's initial findings, taken together with the IRA statement of 28 July and the subsequent act of final decommissioning on 26 September, clearly offer the potential for a huge transformation in the situation in Northern Ireland and a return to partnership politics and devolved government. The IMC's next report is due in January 2006. We hope this will continue to show that all IRA activities have ceased.

I continue to maintain contact with all the political parties in Northern Ireland. I met Mark Durkan and other SDLP representatives on 6 October, David Forde and other Alliance Party representatives on 13 October, David Ervine and other PUP representatives on 26 October and Sir Reg Empey and other UUP representatives on 9 November. The meetings focused on recent political developments, including the prospects for restoration of devolved government.

I met Dr. Ian Paisley and a delegation from the DUP on 18 November. We had a comprehensive exchange of views on current issues in the peace process and on how we could make progress in the coming months. We also discussed areas of common ground and ways we could work together in the future. I attach considerable importance to ensuring an open and frank relationship with the DUP. I believe the relationship between the DUP and the Government has developed positively over the past two years.

Contacts of this nature between the Governments and the political parties, including recently those involving the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, a second round of which will take place this week, are the best means to make progress in the process.

The question of further outside mediation does not arise. The issues are clear and it is a matter for everyone to now play their part in bringing all of them to an early, lasting and stable conclusion.

On the issue of Oireachtas participation for Northern Ireland MPs, Deputies will be aware that the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution felt that it could be particularly valuable from time to time to have the expertise and experience of Northern Ireland MPs in Dáil deliberations with regard to Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. I have always been clear in my support for this proposal and my wish to see it carried forward. I wrote to all Dáil party leaders on this matter on 26 October and I will reflect on their replies and how best this issue can be advanced. Ultimately the question is a matter for this House and that is why I have written to party leaders seeking their views.

I have advised the House on several occasions that the Government would, in the appropriate circumstances, address the so-called on-the-runs issue. The Governments' intentions regarding OTRs were referred to as far back as Weston Park in July 2001. For a number of reasons, it was not possible to advance this issue in the intervening period but both Governments have now published their proposals on the matter and the approach envisaged in our respective jurisdictions. The number of persons likely to avail of the scheme in our jurisdiction is small. The scheme will not apply to persons in relation to offences connected with the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and the wounding of Garda Ben O'Sullivan.

I visited Belfast on Thursday, 3 November, where my engagements included a visit to the Somme Heritage Centre in Newtownards, a visit to the Christian Brothers Club on the Antrim Road, a meeting with New Lodge community representatives, a visit to the 174 Trust in north Belfast and a visit to a Cross Community Peace Project at Poleglass in west Belfast. I also addressed at lunch a meeting of the members of the Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland. My address focused on two main themes. I spoke about the real potential for the island economy and for North-South co-operation in a wide range of areas, to the mutual benefit of both parts of this island. I also made clear that the constitutional issue was settled by people when they voted for the Good Friday Agreement and that the onus is now on all concerned to work towards the implementation of the Agreement in all its dimensions. That is our objective, one that is fully reflected in the recent motion which this House adopted.

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