Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make it clear to Deputy Gerry Adams that I am speaking in as objective a manner as I possibly can. I was critical of the Northern Ireland First Minister's response to the independent adjudication of the Parades Commission by withdrawing from the North-South Ministerial Council and the talks, a point not acknowledged by the Deputy in any way. I did not get a clear answer. Did the Taoiseach speak to the First Minister about his decision to withdraw from an institution created under the Good Friday Agreement? Does the Taoiseach intend to have discussions with him at some stage to ensure a continued honouring of the agreements former President Clinton and others worked to create together in good faith?

I make the point that this applies both ways. I think the First Minister was wrong, but the Deputy First Minister was also wrong. Policing is a very sensitive issue in Northern Ireland and trying to suggest it is about the right to protest is stretching it too far. If a person is a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, he or she cannot simply decide he or she does not like the decision to arrest a certain person. I am not referring to Deputy Gerry Adams's arrest; there was the arrest of another Sinn Féin member over a year ago. It is not on for a member of the policing board to decide that he or she does not like the police arresting one of his or her party members and then decide to join in and lead the protests outside a police station. That undermines confidence among the community in the policing institution.

It is time for political leaders, irrespective of their viewpoint, to have a sense of accepting the independence of the institutions established under the Agreement which must enjoy public confidence. If they do not have the necessary public confidence, whether it be the policing board or the Parades Commission, they undermine these institutions and do so at their peril, but that is what has been going on.

Will the Taoiseach meet the British Prime Minister? Is there a need for a meeting? I imagine the Taoiseach must have discussed the matter with former President Clinton at their meeting. Is there a need for a stronger bilateral governmental response on these issues? Since the devolution of justice issues, the DUP and Sinn Féin have stated at Hillsborough Castle that they will sort out the issue of parading. They suggested taking it from the Parades Commission. Three years ago Sinn Féin agreed to take away the role of the Parades Commission. Then came the Haass talks. The idea was to put the matter in the hands of the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. That amounts to taking it from an independent context and moving it into a political context. Given what has happened this week, what chance does it have? Are we seriously suggesting this could sort out the issue of parading? The parties have not resolved their differences on parading, despite stating to all concerned that they would sort it out. They made their points and knew about the issue better than anyone else, including the British Prime Minister, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. They stated they would sort it out, despite having spent the previous 12 months asking the two Governments to become involved. That is the other scenario. When things go wrong, the Governments are asked to come in quickly. Then, they are asked to go away again because the parties reckon they will sort it out. However, it has not been. That is the problem and we are where we are coming up to 12 July, which is concerning. I am pleased that the Northern Ireland Executive has come out with its statement, but we could have done without the withdrawal from the institutions this week. Is there a need for the two Governments to re-examine where they situate the adjudication on parades from a policy perspective?

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