Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

In 1990, the year of the setting-up of the then British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, we lived in a different place in so far as circumstances prevailing at that time meant there was conflict, there were people being killed, there were bombings, there was state violence, and there were arrests, detentions and imprisonments. There was, around that time and maybe a few years earlier, the beginning of a serious effort to bring about dialogue and negotiations. There were the courageous efforts of the Hume-Adams initiative. There were also those who still remain nameless but who worked behind the scenes to help bring about a situation whereby it was possible to resolve the reasons for conflict in a humane way and through dialogue and negotiation.

During the period to which I refer, the British and Irish Governments recognised a security agenda would not deliver a lasting peace. The IRA ceasefire was still four years away and it would be eight years until the Good Friday Agreement emerged. I was a prisoner in Portlaoise Prison at that time. I was incarcerated with hundreds of republican and other prisoners. We always had hope and a sense that people would come to the understanding that we had to find different ways of dealing with the outstanding issues that existed and of pursuing our objectives. The IRA ceasefire came into effect on 1 September 1994. This gave John Major the opportunity to approach the matter in a positive way but, unfortunately, he was the leader of a weakened Government which was dependent upon the Unionists. The ceasefire collapsed but thankfully there was a change of Government in England in 1997, when Tony Blair came to power. There was also a change of Government in the Twenty-six Counties. In addition, the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, became involved. The coming together of all these progressive forces effectively led to the implementation of a second IRA ceasefire and to the commencement of negotiations.

I am not interested in scoring points and I am of the view it is good that matters are where they currently stand. It must be noted, however, there were doubters, especially in the political arena, who believed what eventually came to pass could never have happened. It did happen because progressive people, elements and leaders in the various parties and within the two Governments were prepared to look ahead and to try to build a future for our children. Their aim was to leave a positive legacy for the generations to come.

We moved on, negotiations took place and the Good Friday Agreement came into being. Again, the latter involved a historic compromise and people of political influence were able to deliver their respective constituencies. The outcome of the process relating to the Good Friday Agreement has led us to where we now find ourselves. Subsequently, the St. Andrews and Hillsborough Agreements were brought forward and we are now living in a far better place. I must acknowledge the role played by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly during the long period to which I refer. When one is living through events, it often seems they take a long time to transpire. When one looks at them through the prism of history, however, and in the context of conflict resolution and so forth, one can see the period involved is very short. That is particularly true when one is aware of the place from which one came. All of us in this House have lived through such a period. The Tánaiste and I might have more of an understanding of other types of struggle in the context of our respective parties and so on.

There are some outstanding and, indeed, very painful issues which remain to be considered and resolved. I refer, in particular, to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Today is the 38th anniversary of the bombing of certain parts of this city.

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