Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I propose to share time with Deputies Sargent, Finian McGrath and Joe Higgins.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis próiseas na síochána a phlé. Bhí mé i láthair ag na cainteanna in Albain, agus creidim go bhfuil dul chun cinn déanta ag gach páirtí agus ag an dá Rialtas. Tá bunús maith ann anois Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a chur i bhfeidhm go hiomlán.

Having attended the talks in St. Andrews in Scotland, I believe very significant progress has been made towards the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The basis for further progress has been put in place, and it is up to the two Governments and all parties to build on that basis.

Yesterday the DUP pulled out of a meeting of the programme for Government committee, a direct engagement with Sinn Féin arising directly from the St. Andrews talks. The pretext for this pull-out was the DUP's interpretation of the pledge of office for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I wish to point out very clearly at the outset that Sinn Féin has suggested changes to the pledge of office which we believe would be helpful. If the DUP wishes to make other suggestions, it should be talking to Sinn Féin.

There is no substitute for direct dialogue between the DUP and Sinn Féin. The DUP has yet to come to terms with that but it must do so if we are to build on progress made to date. As I have stated, St. Andrews formed a basis for movement forward, but much more remains to be done. That needs to hammered out with direct dialogue.

The DUP has also linked the issue of policing to its conduct yesterday. I should again be very clear on Sinn Féin's position on policing. Sinn Féin is for proper civic, democratic and accountable policing. What we are against is bad policing and bad law and order. We are against political policing, counter-insurgency policing and policing as a weapon of war, which has been the norm in the Six Counties for generations.

Sinn Féin is about changing all of this, and we have made huge progress in recent years. The issue before us is whether policing in the Six Counties has reached a stage where it can enjoy the support of all the community. Our job is to resolve all of the outstanding matters and help to create a proper policing service. It will be the PSNI's job to prove itself to the community.

For our part we want to see rapid progress made on this issue. We believe such progress is possible. When this happens, and in the right context, uachtarán Shinn Féin, Gerry Adams, will go to the party's Ard Chomhairle to ask it to call a special Ard-Fheis on the matter. It will then be the membership of Sinn Féin that will decide our position.

It needs to be stressed that the St. Andrews document is an agreement between the two Governments. The parties have not signed up to it. This process is work in progress and much remains to be worked out between the parties. There is real hope, despite yesterday's events, that the DUP has come to accept the democratic mandate of Sinn Féin and to accept the need to share power with its Nationalist and republican neighbours. That will be tested in the period ahead and Sinn Féin is anxious to facilitate the DUP in taking that step forward, a step forward that will surely benefit all the people of the Six Counties and of Ireland as a whole.

If Sinn Féin is to respond positively to the St. Andrews agreement the proposals therein must have the potential to deliver equality, accountable civic policing, human rights and the full restoration of the political institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement. We are commencing a process of internal discussion with the membership of Sinn Féin on the St. Andrews document, on the outstanding issues which are still subject to negotiation and on the way forward. That is a very important process. I urge people generally, as I did yesterday, of all parties and none, to read and study the St. Andrews document and to participate in the public discussions. This is not just a matter for the two Governments and the parties in the Six Counties, this is about the future of Ireland and of all the people who regard this island as their home.

At St. Andrews the British Government made a number of commitments, which must now be delivered, on issues including the all-Ireland parliamentary forum and the all-Ireland civic forum, the removal of the British Government power to suspend the political institutions, a statutory obligation for relevant Ministers to attend meetings of the all-Ireland ministerial council, the establishment of a bill of rights forum by the end of the year, a single equality Bill, an Irish language Act, tackling discrimination against ex-prisoners and an end to the bar on Irish citizens accessing top Civil Service posts in the Six Counties.

The Irish Government also has obligations it must meet. These include real representation for Six County elected representatives here in the Dáil — that responsibility falls on all parties. It includes the setting aside of the draconian Offences Against the State Acts. It must accelerate its efforts to integrate infrastructure and public services on an all-Ireland basis and provide a real peace dividend for those communities most adversely affected by partition and conflict. There remains the issue of republican prisoners, which must also be faced up to.

Sinn Féin does not believe that either a referendum or an election in the North or South is required in the event of the St. Andrews proposals being agreed by all the parties. The extremist wing of any party here might like to note that. In our view it does not and should not alter the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement. That Agreement is the basis for progress now and always.

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