Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is meeting the British Prime Minister today and I understand they will discuss trade, energy supplies and the North. In the wake of remarks last week by the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, I hope the Taoiseach will remind the British Prime Minister of the London Government's outstanding obligations to the peace process. Among other issues, the British Government has failed to implement key parts of the Good Friday Agreement, including Acht na Gaeilge, the civic forum, the bill of rights, and other equality and human rights issues. The British Government has also refused to establish an inquiry into the murder of the human rights lawyer, Pat Finucane, the Ballymurphy massacre, or to hand over files concerning the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, despite a call by the Oireachtas to do so.

More significantly, we are now entering the third month since Dr. Richard Haass and Professor Meghan O'Sullivan presented proposals which followed lengthy discussions with political parties and others. The Tánaiste knows that the UUP has rejected these proposals, while the DUP has yet to support them. The proposals are largely supported by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party.

Recent history teaches us that the Unionist parties will move positively and address issues only if encouraged by both Governments to do so. Running away from the Richard Haass proposals will not achieve anything but instead will encourage those who are against progress. Will the Taoiseach make it clear to the British Prime Minister that negative engagement by London and rowing back on commitments by it is deeply unhelpful?

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