Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Does the Minister for State agree that a certain ambiguity has been created by the contrasting positions of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs? Will he clarify the matter? The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said that participation in the policing arrangements is not a precondition. At the same time, the Taoiseach has said that participation in the policing arrangements in Northern Ireland is a vital part of any new deal. I put it to the Minister of State that ambiguity has been created with regard to the structure of policing.

Would it not be better to deal with such transitional difficulties as are there, such as the issue of MI5 being the lead agency for intelligence gathering, as has been raised by Sinn Féin on occasion? It is time that the Government indicated its position clearly. Is it continuing to ask of Sinn Féin that it fully participate and seek such changes from within as would satisfy its criticisms or is it tacitly sending a separate message to the party that it is all right to stay outside? Which is it? Is it the Taoiseach's or the Minister for Foreign Affairs's version that is Government policy?

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