Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The return of violence to the streets of Belfast, the intimidation of public representatives and the attacks on members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, during the past eight days are matters of deep concern to the Government, Members of this House and Irish people everywhere who support the peace process. The scenes of violence and intimidation remind us of the need for steady support for the peace process and the principles of the agreements and the visions they offer of a society based on respect for difference and tolerance for the traditions and multiple identities on the island.

As the Deputy is aware, the protests followed a decision by Belfast City Council on Monday, 3 December on future arrangements for the flying of the Union flag over City Hall. I note that the motion passed represented a democratic and legitimate compromise and that the regime for flying the flag on designated days applies elsewhere in Northern Ireland to flags flying over public buildings and offices. I accept and support the right of people to protest peacefully, but violence and attacks on political representatives, places of worship and the police are totally unacceptable. In particular, I condemn the attacks that have taken place on the homes of elected representatives of the Alliance Party and their families and the death threats issued against the deputy leader of the Alliance Party, Ms Naomi Long, MP, who represents the people of east Belfast. Such threats are appalling, disgraceful and totally unacceptable. They are an attack on democracy and have no place in the politics of the island. Other dreadful incidents have included the burning down of an Alliance Party office in Carrickfergus and, most seriously, an incident last night in which a petrol bomb was thrown into a police car outside Ms Long's office in east Belfast. The PSNI is treating the attack as attempted murder. To date, 32 PSNI officers have been injured in protest-related violence. The ongoing violence is causing disruption to business and community life. As the Deputy stated, we should spare a thought for retailers in Belfast who have been particularly affected in the final weeks before Christmas.

The Taoiseach and I discussed this matter with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, when we met her on Thursday last. I have spoken to the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice and Alliance Party leader, Mr. David Ford, MLA, and conveyed to him the support of the Government for the PSNI and solidarity with those members of his party who have had to endure assaults on themselves, their families and property. I also discussed the situation with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP, this afternoon. Officials from my Department continue to remain in close contact with members of the political parties in the North, the PSNI and British officials and have been monitoring events closely during the last week.

This is the moment for responsible political leadership and we must all be conscious that our interventions should seek to calm rather than inflame tensions. I welcome the unanimous motion passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday morning which unequivocally condemned the rioting and the campaign of violent attacks on elected representatives and expressed sympathy to all those who had been attacked or threatened. I support those who have called on the leaders of loyalism to exert their influence and defuse the spiral of violence which is endangering life and the rule of law.

Last week was a great opportunity to showcase progress in Northern Ireland with the visit of Ms Clinton. The census figures released today show a very different Northern Ireland, one where the numbers in employment have increased by 14% since the previous census was conducted. That is double the rate of population increase. They also show a society which is not only more prosperous but which is also increasingly at ease with a complex sense of identity and which is less inclined to define itself with simple labels - British or Irish, Catholic or Protestant. Northern Ireland has developed a justified reputation for dynamism. This is underlined by the opening of flagship visitor attractions at the Giant's Causeway and the Titanic Quarter, the hosting of the Irish Open at Portrush and the fact that Derry will be European City of Culture next year. These are precious gains, the result of long and patient efforts by individuals across society. The Government will continue to do all in its power to protect these gains and build on them and to support the political leaders in Northern Ireland as they work to move beyond the current tensions. We will remain heavily engaged in the ongoing work of securing the peace, conscious that, while great progress has been made, more needs to be done to realise the objective of a truly reconciled society on the island.

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