Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the various Members for contributing to this debate and for the broad cross-party goodwill they have expressed towards the discussions that took place over the past few weeks and days. The Government thanks all those who have been concerned in the so-called "hothouse talks", including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and Mr. Blair who in very difficult circumstances spent a great deal of time on this issue. It is significant that in a time when he was under considerable political pressure at home he was able to spend two and a half days constantly working on the issue of Northern Ireland. I also thank my counterpart, Peter Hain, who had, and still has, a significant amount of work to do. I thank too the parties, and officials from both Governments and the parties involved, who worked well into the night on every occasion. I wish especially to mention the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Mitchell Reiss, who was there for the entire period.

We share the frustration at the slow progress on devolved government in Northern Ireland but we should not underestimate the difficulties ahead of us. The St. Andrews talks were a result of the review of the Good Friday Agreement, not in place of that agreement. That point needs to be emphasised because all the issues flowing from the Good Friday Agreement are still required and to the fore.

Several speakers referred to the inclusivity of the talks. It is the case that the talks leading up to, and at, the St. Andrews meeting included all the political parties, such as the PUP and Bob McCartney. They were involved in the discussions as was appropriate.

We on this side of the House are disappointed of course with the postponement of the programme for government committee. I spoke to Peter Hain a couple of times yesterday and the indications are that this issue will be sorted out in the not too distant future. I hope it will because while some people may have been euphoric after the St. Andrews agreement, it is important not to over-estimate the situation and to acknowledge that over the next few months there will be hurdles to clear.

There are two net issues, one, whether Sinn Féin will, as it has said it will, fully commit to policing and the rule of law. The second concerns the DUP which has repeatedly said it is prepared to share power with nationalists but only when we see that made manifest, as it sits at a table with Sinn Féin, the SDLP and others, will we be sure it will put its words into action.

Several Deputies, including Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte, spoke of a referendum or election in Northern Ireland. At least one party demanded an election on this issue. The Governments and the parties held some discussions on this and it was agreed that it would be indicated that an electoral endorsement of the discussions would take place over the next couple of months. As I said publicly, the issue of holding a referendum here in the Republic is under consideration. The Attorney General will advise the Government which will decide on the basis of that advice. He said in 2004, when we studied the comprehensive agreement, that he would have to advise on whether there would be any constitutional implications in the St. Andrews agreement, and in the comprehensive agreement at that time. That is yet to be decided. We will not decide off the tops of our heads but after full consideration of the Attorney General's advice.

There have been several discussions at official and ministerial levels on a possible peace dividend. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the devolved government when that is up and running.

Trust and confidence between the parties are at the core of this process. There has been incredible mistrust between the parties, now that we are dealing with the parties on the extreme. We need all parties to engage and the idea of the sequencing of events between now and March is to endeavour to get those parties to engage with each other. The requirement is for the DUP and Sinn Féin to engage with each other on the type of issues that caused difficulty yesterday.

There are several hurdles to be cleared between now and 26 March but if the Governments or the parties fall at those hurdles we will revert to plan B, which has been discussed and more or less put together. This is not a threat but if the parties cannot agree on this over the coming months we will revert to plan B.

Deputy Kenny raised the issue of the designation or otherwise of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. On 24 November the First and Deputy First Ministers will be nominated without a vote and will carry forward the preparations for government. Power will not be devolved until after that. It is important to stress there will not be a vote on 24 November. It was never envisaged that there would be when the Executive goes live.

Several Members raised the issue of side deals. No side deals were done by the Government and no letters or documents were exchanged by it in any of these issues. The Government was not privy to all discussions held between some parties and the British Government.

I thank Deputies for contributing to the debate. We should be under no illusion that it will be a difficult few months ahead. However, last Friday's events illustrated a better relationship, particularly when one observes the body language and the speeches by Sinn Féin, the DUP, the SDLP and the UUP. There was a constructive atmosphere at St. Andrews. Yesterday's difficulties are regrettable but I believe we will be able to get over it with some goodwill. Last Friday's agreement is the dawn of a new beginning for the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of the island.

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