Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Having played our part in the direct engagement with the republican base not only in this State but throughout the island of Ireland in winning support for new policing arrangements in the North of Ireland and a new acceptance of changed policing structures in that part of our island, we share very much in the frustration of so many at the passage of time since the agreement was reached at St. Andrews, in which a number of us directly participated. I will not press the Taoiseach on any of the content of the recent negotiations that took place at Hillsborough, except to say that it is my understanding that considerable work and progress has been made over an intense and protracted period of engagement. It is very understandable that there have been expressions of impatience at the length of time, as we are into the second week of these intense inter-party engagements. These expressions have been made across the island of Ireland and undoubtedly beyond these shores.

It is important to recognise that what is at stake is not just something that goes to the core of relations between communities in the North of Ireland, but to the core of the relationship between the island of Ireland and the neighbouring island of Britain. The prize is something of great importance to people of all opinion and it is that we have the transfer of policing and justice responsibilities to the Assembly in Belfast and that there is a joint responsibility for overseeing the working out of those responsibilities into the future. The issue is now one of political leadership and the ability to deliver.

I want to acknowledge the Taoiseach's direct involvement in these talks and that of his British counterpart, specifically in respect of the Hillsborough engagement. Will he join with me in rejecting the type of commentary that would wish to portray the difficulties that pertain in the overall body politic in the North of Ireland as two intractable foes constantly proving themselves unable to overcome their respective difficulties? This is something of such importance that it warrants the direct involvement of the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister. As Irish republicans see it, what is involved here is the future working of the structures established under the Good Friday Agreement to serve the people directly in the Six Counties, as well as the people of the whole island. It also deals with the relationships between these respective islands into the future.

I hope that the final hours of these discussions will lead to a successful outcome, something for which the overwhelming body of people across the island are hoping and praying. Tá súil agam go n-éireóidh leis na cainteanna sin go luath.

The questions posed to the Taoiseach cover a wide range of issues, but I would like to refer specifically to Question No. 12. I asked him in that question whether he has availed of the opportunity to raise directly with the British Prime Minister the issue of collusion. I refer particularly to the unanimous agreement in the Oireachtas on the Barron and justice sub-committee reports, which were forwarded for consideration by the British Parliament at Westminster. While we have received an acknowledgment, we have apparently made no progress in our unanimous call that the outstanding matters be subject to truth and justice. The Taoiseach indicated in the past that he did not directly address these matters with the British Prime Minister. Since the last time we posed these questions to him, has he availed of the opportunity to address the Barron and justice sub-committee reports, as well as the Dáil motion?

We also passed an important unanimous motion in this House. Has he taken the opportunity to address with the British Prime Minister the issue of the murder of Pat Finucane? The Finucane family and many campaigners for truth and justice in Ireland, Britain and elsewhere have been waiting for a resolution to this for some time. Can the Taoiseach give us an update on this? What expectations does he have of any progress in respect of both these matters? Our call from this House should not be viewed as exceptional, when one realises that the British Government and the previous Prime Minister are under intense scrutiny over his decision to participate in the invasion of Iraq. The British have been prepared to address these matters in an open forum, so what is the problem with addressing the British war in Ireland?

See this speech in context