Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I welcome this opportunity to speak on the peace process in Northern Ireland. The ongoing support of all Members of this House for building and maintaining peace in the North has been invaluable, and remains a strong cornerstone of the continued progress towards lasting peace and reconciliation.

As we are all aware, the agreement announced in Hillsborough on 5 February represented the culmination of many hours of intensive negotiation and engagement on all sides. It provides the basis for the future stability and success of the democratic institutions which we have all worked so hard to create and maintain. Fair and balanced compromises were required so that gaps could be bridged and different perspectives accommodated.

The completion of the devolution of policing and justice by 12 April will be an essential step for peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland. It will consolidate the operation of devolved government and close the circle in the transformation of policing and justice structures in Northern Ireland. I also welcome the agreement on a way forward on parades. An enhanced framework, implemented by agreement, offers the prospect of respecting and equitably balancing the rights of everybody.

It is fair to say that the recent negotiation process was not an easy one. The issues that were being discussed go to the very core of Northern Ireland's past. Their solutions are the foundations for Northern Ireland's future. As well as the key political issues that had to be agreed, these talks were, in many ways, about the re-establishment of trust between the parties. It is very important to realise that the political context for the recent talks was very different from any that have gone before. While they were facilitated by the two Governments, in the end, they were primarily conducted between the parties in Northern Ireland. That is because, unlike on previous occasions, we have had fully functioning democratic institutions throughout this recent period of political turbulence. Indeed, the members of the current Northern Ireland Executive have now held office for longer than any of their predecessors since Good Friday of 1998.

In addition to the outstanding issues from the St. Andrew's Agreement, that period of working together has thrown up new challenges which only the parties themselves can properly address. While the two Governments have an essential role in upholding the agreement, and a continuing role in supporting the institutions and the parties as they move forward, it is the parties themselves who came to an agreement on this occasion.

Naturally, not all the parties are happy with all aspects of the agreement reached or with the level of their involvement in the negotiations. I understand many of their concerns. For our part, the Prime Minister and I met all of the parties bilaterally on several occasions, as did the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We also convened a number of all-party plenary sessions. Of course, the political reality - determined by the electorate at the last Assembly elections - is that the DUP and Sinn Féin are the leading parties and, between them, can command cross-community support in the Assembly. It, therefore, fell to those two parties in particular to reach agreement. I urge them to continue to work more closely with the other parties in future. In that regard, I welcome the proposals for improving the workings of the Executive and for greater discussion with the other parties which are part of the agreement.

Prime Minister Brown and myself have worked closely together over the past months, remaining in close contact with each other and with the Northern parties. We had a lengthy meeting in London on 30 November, when we assessed the issues and risks faced by the institutions and agreed on a joint approach to facilitate agreement between the parties. Following our meeting of 17 December in Copenhagen, we said in a joint statement that we believed that early completion of the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly was realistic and achievable and that any outstanding issues were capable of resolution by the parties.

I met again with the Prime Minister on 14 and 25 January and discussed the political situation in Northern Ireland. At the latter meeting, we judged there was a serious risk of a crisis in the institutions if the Governments did not intervene directly. We travelled together from Downing Street to Hillsborough Castle where we convened over three days talks with all of the Northern Ireland parties on outstanding issues relating to the devolution of policing and justice. During those talks we worked hard to establish common ground, to build dialogue between the parties and to re-establish the trust necessary to complete the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland. Having talked to all of the leaders of Northern Ireland's political parties, we believed there was a clear pathway to an agreement. While we had hoped to bring matters to a conclusion during the week of 25 January, we felt that it was right and necessary for the parties to work together in the spirit of trust and understanding to agree and take ownership of the proposed solutions.

We asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to continue to work with all of the parties to seek a resolution. I congratulate all of the parties around the table that contributed to the positive outcome reached last week. The leadership displayed by the First and Deputy First Minister and their respective party colleagues was instrumental in achieving the agreement that has been reached. I also acknowledge the wisdom and leadership of all of the other party leaders, including Sir Reg Empey, Mr. Mark Durkan, Mr. David Ford and Ms Dawn Purvis, and their teams, and the part they played.

I take this opportunity to place on the record of the House my special appreciation to the former SDLP leader Mr. Mark Durkan for all that he has done to help build peace, prosperity and reconciliation in this country. I know that he has much more to contribute to political life in the future. I also congratulate Ms Margaret Ritchie on her election as Mr. Durkan's successor and wish her every success in her new role as SDLP leader. I thank the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, for the extraordinary commitment he has shown in recent weeks and months in making last Friday's agreement possible. I pay particular tribute to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward, in terms of the enormous efforts they invested over many days and nights in facilitating this agreement.

Throughout the journey of this peace process we have benefited from the continued support of our friends in the United States. I thank President Obama for his kind words last Friday on the reaching of agreement and for his generous invitation to me to visit the White House and meet with him on St. Patrick's Day. I recognise the role of the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and her encouragement of the parties to reach agreement and for the positive contribution made by Mr. Declan Kelly, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland. Above all, I commend the political leaders of Northern Ireland for the courage and determination they have shown in stretching themselves to reach this agreement. The parties took clear ownership of these negotiations and worked closely and patiently together to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. The quality of that engagement has reinforced my view that the devolved institutions can and will work and deliver good government for the people of Northern Ireland.

The agreement reached presents a real opportunity to renew the partnership which is the life blood of the devolved institutions. It demonstrates that the parties can and will continue to work the political institutions of the North for the benefit of all of the people. It is my strong view that the spirit of the Agreement is just as important as the letter of the Agreement. The Agreement is not some abstract mathematical formula about setting up structures for people to coexist peacefully and tolerate each other. It is about people coming to the table with a sense of generosity, understanding and accommodating the views and opinions of others and doing so in a way that best serves everyone in the community and promotes security, stability and support for democracy. The devolved institutions can now move on to focus on the day-to-day issues of concern to everyone, including the economy, jobs, health, education, infrastructure, social services, community safety and the quality of life generally. I look forward to seeing all of the agreed steps for the devolution of policing and justice implemented. The drafting of an addendum to the programme for Government for the Department of Justice will allow the development of policies which support an effective policing and justice system. In addition, the people in the North can now receive the full benefit of £800 million of resources for a new department of justice from the British Government.

Achieving agreement on parading as part of this process has also been a major achievement. The new and improved framework will see a co-chaired working group comprising six members. They have now been appointed by the First and Deputy First Minister and will begin work immediately to bring forward agreed outcomes. It is vital that all of these steps are taken as agreed and within the timeframe.

In moving forward on these critical matters, I believe the parties have recovered the spirit of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements - that vision of a better future for all the people of these islands. That better future must be built on mutual respect for people of different traditions, equality and tolerance, and respect for each other's political aspirations, cultural expression and inheritance. That includes respect for the Irish language and for those who treasure it as part of their cultural heritage. In this regard, we look forward to further progress in implementing the relevant commitments in the St. Andrews Agreement. It also includes respect for all aspects of our rich traditions on this island.

As I said at Hillsborough, we are very fortunate to enjoy the rich tapestry which has been woven from all of the history, cultures and traditions on the island of Ireland. We must continue to work for reconciliation and partnership, to protect and nurture all we hold dear, including our beliefs, traditions and, above all, the new relationships that have grown from the peace process.

We also look forward to the implementation of outstanding commitments relating to the establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum, the North-South consultative forum and the completion of the St. Andrews review of North-South co-operation.

In recent weeks, I have outlined to the House the considerable progress that has been made on these issues, including the convening of the first ever North-South consultative conference last October and the proposal for a North-South parliamentary conference to take place soon, at a time to be agreed between the Ceann Comhairle and the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

I see an increasingly vigorous agenda of North-South co-operation as a key to the future prosperity and success of both parts of this island. Ireland, North and South, is facing unprecedented economic challenges. In meeting common challenges - such as promoting economic recovery, dealing with the effects of climate change, guaranteeing our energy security and developing our skills and research and development base - there is a growing recognition that we are strongest when we share approaches and weakest when we work alone.

It is in all our interests to work together to identify where we can reduce or share costs, or improve services. For a small island in an increasingly globalised world, it makes simple common sense to co-operate in order to compete. The Government remains committed to working with the Northern Ireland executive and the British Government in the future to help build on all our achievements and to make a better future for everyone.

As we mark this month's deadline for paramilitary decommissioning, it is worth taking stock of the great degree of success there has been in taking the gun out of politics in Northern Ireland. Recent acts of decommissioning remind us all of the great benefits that the peace process can bring and the confidence it generates in communities. This Government has expressed its appreciation of those who worked so hard to bring about decommissioning by the UDA. I also welcome yesterday's confirmation by the INLA and other groups that they have put their weapons beyond use. Their recognition that politics is the only way forward is to be welcomed.

Sadly, the evil, criminal attack on PSNI Constable Peadar Heffron in recent weeks is a stark reminder that there remain a tiny, unrepresentative few whose aim is to destroy all that has been achieved. I pay tribute to Constable Heffron for all that he has done for this country and for his bravery in dealing with what I know are significant injuries. It is very important that we place our deep appreciation and our best wishes for Constable Peadar Heffron and his family firmly on the record of Dáil Éireann. I know that all the elected representatives of the Irish people in this House join with me in that regard.

Such attacks by so-called dissident republicans do not represent the democratic will of the people of this island. They offer nothing but pain and suffering to the Irish people. The best response to such people is to complete the devolution of policing and justice powers, secure the stability of democratic institutions and show that politics is delivering for all the people of Northern Ireland.

Peace is a precious thing. All the people of these islands greatly value what has been achieved in the North in recent years. They have no wish to see a return to the bad old days. It is the duty of all of the political leaders on this island to continue working together in trust and partnership to ensure that we continue on the path of peace. I again thank all of the Members of this House for their continued support in our collective endeavours and for all of their work in the cause of peace and reconciliation.

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