Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The financial aspects of the provision of devolution of policing and justice to Northern Ireland - the financial package to support the Northern Ireland Executive once that devolution has taken place - is to be published today. I am pleased this correspondence will be published today and that people will see that a commitment has been made to ensure it happens. A few more steps will have to be taken before devolution finally takes place but I am optimistic that it will proceed in the near future. The publication of the financial package is a major step forward in this regard.

On resolutions of this House, it is a matter for this House to deal with those matters. Having forwarded a formal resolution to the Parliament, it is a matter for the Dáil to decide what further steps, if any, it can take in the context of the clear view taken by the House in those matters at the time.

Regarding the question of dealing with the past, it is important that the work done by Mr. Bradley and Lord Eames and others provides the framework in which all of society can look to see how issues of the past can be dealt with in a way that would promote healing and reconciliation in the community.

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