Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 June 2005

Ceisteanna — Questions.

Northern Ireland Issues.

2:30 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding recent developments in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17790/05]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the British-Irish Council meeting in the Isle of Man on 20 May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/05]

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18374/05]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the seventh British-Irish Council summit in the Isle of Man. [18926/05]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach when he will meet the President of the United States of America, Mr. George W. Bush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18927/05]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the parties in Northern Ireland. [18928/05]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair. [18929/05]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19034/05]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with the British Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19035/05]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19041/05]

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on progress in the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/05]

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/05]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 16: To ask the Taoiseach if the issue of Irish unity is ever on the table at talks on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19244/05]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 17: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton. [19245/05]

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 18: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the British-Irish Council meeting on 20 May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19359/05]

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 19: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding developments in the Northern Ireland peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19360/05]

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 20: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the conference on North-South bodies organised by the Institute for British-Irish Studies in Dublin on 22 May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19361/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding developments in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19708/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Taoiseach when he next expects to meet the British Prime Minister to discuss matters relating to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19709/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Taoiseach the number of occasions on which he has met representatives of Sinn Féin since the beginning of 2005; the figure for meetings with the SDLP, DUP, UUP and Alliance Party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19710/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meetings with Sinn Féin. [19711/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of the British-Irish Council meeting on the Isle of Man on 20 May 2005. [19712/05]

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 25, inclusive, together.

Discussions in recent weeks have focused on overall political developments in the aftermath of the British elections, with an emphasis on the centrality of the Good Friday Agreement, a complete ending of IRA paramilitary and criminal activity and capability and the continued partnership between both Governments. The Good Friday Agreement is the centrepiece of our policy and its implementation in all its dimensions remains our priority.

I have not met the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, since his re-election, but I spoke with him shortly after his success to extend my best wishes for his third term in office. I will, however, meet him in London tomorrow. While our discussions, in view of the imminent and crucially important European Council meeting, will mainly address EU matters, we will also have an opportunity to discuss Northern Ireland. Later this month, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and I will chair a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at which we will discuss the peace process in more detail as well as our co-operation across a range of issues of mutual concern.

I understand the internal consultation process is continuing within the IRA. At this point I cannot say when we can expect this process to be completed. Like every Member, I hope that it will not take much longer. When it does come, it must be clear and decisive and embrace an end to all paramilitarism and criminality as well as the completion of decommissioning. If that happens, and recognising that regaining confidence and trust will inevitably take some time, both Governments will expect Unionists to participate in fully inclusive partnership politics in Northern Ireland.

I have had ongoing contacts with all the political parties. Tomorrow, I will meet the Democratic Unionist Party in London, my first opportunity to meet with it for some time. As the need for an open and constructive relationship between the Democratic Unionist Party and the Government is self-evident, I welcome this opportunity to renew our dialogue. I have met representatives of the SDLP on four occasions and the Ulster Unionist Party and Alliance once since the start of 2005. I have met Sinn Féin representatives on several occasions since the beginning of the year. In addition to the meeting in late January, I met them in Washington on 16 March. I also had several private meetings with Gerry Adams.

Notwithstanding the many difficulties of recent months, I have made it clear that we would maintain contacts with Sinn Féin. Through this engagement, the party can be in no doubt as to the Government's concerns and the need for a clear and decisive response from the IRA which will enable the process to move forward again.

I attended a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council, one of the institutions established under the Agreement, on 20 May in the Isle of Man. The summit had representatives of all eight British-Irish Council members at senior political level from Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The Tánaiste also attended as the main item on the agenda was telemedicine, the delivery of health care information and services using information technology. A programme of work was agreed, which identified a number of other areas where progress can be made on issues of common interest. The British delegation was headed by the British Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Prescott, and included the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Hain. I had brief discussions with them about the situation in Northern Ireland.

I met the former US President, Mr. Clinton, in Government Buildings on 23 May. We discussed a wide range of issues, including the situation in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the British elections, the importance of a positive response from the IRA and the other challenges to the peace process, such as the murder of Robert McCartney. Mr. Clinton maintains a strong interest in the peace process, as he does in other matters that arose in our discussions, including the battle against HIV-AIDS globally and the Asian tsunami relief effort. I have no immediate plans to meet the US President, Mr. Bush.

I addressed the Institute for British-Irish Studies conference in University College Dublin on 27 May. The conference's particular focus was North-South co-operation and the implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. As these issues are a vital dimension to the agreement, I welcomed the opportunity to profile the ongoing commitment of the Government to pursue progress in every way possible.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I commend the Taoiseach for the meetings which he has held over recent weeks. Does he share my frustration at the lack of positive movement from most of the parties directly involved in the peace process? Moreover, does he share the concerns of many citizens that movement is slow? Many people are becoming frustrated and are concerned that a vacuum could remain there? Where vacuums exist, there is a potential for violence.

On Question No. 16 on the issue of Irish unity, the vast majority of people on the island of Ireland support Irish unity, as do most people in Wales, Scotland and England, according to a recent opinion poll. However, this positive view of Irish unity and independence is not reflected at the talks on the Northern issue or frequently in the Dáil. Will the Taoiseach advance this noble, positive ideal on the broader political spectrum? It is an issue to which most people in this House appear to be turning a blind eye.

On the Taoiseach's meeting with Bill Clinton, had the former President any fresh ideas or new radical proposals to break the deadlock in the peace process in the North?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As far as the vacuum is concerned, in the period up to the election it was not possible to make progress and everyone reluctantly accepted that. In the past few weeks, we have been trying to regain momentum on the basis of progress. As I noted in my reply, that is based on a decision to embrace the issues which we did not succeed in completing on 8 December last year. These are the ending of paramilitarism and criminality as well as the completion of decommissioning, followed by an attempt to rebuild trust and confidence. As the House is aware, it will take some time, I hope not too much time, to regain confidence in the process. Thereafter we hope that everyone, particularly the Unionists, will re-engage in an inclusive process. As Deputy Finian McGrath is aware, whether we can genuinely make progress in the way we wish is predicated on the quality of the response to the initiative currently under discussion. We await that response and hope we will not have too long to wait.

On the question of new initiatives by former President Clinton, that is not his function, but he regularly keeps in touch with all sides, both here and in the United States, and receives briefings from our embassy in the United States. He keeps in touch on any matters that arise. He is generally supportive of the Administration and President Bush on the basis of a bipartisan relationship, which he is anxious to see continue on Capitol Hill. It is not his function to propose new initiatives but clearly he supports what is happening and wants to see it work in the period ahead. He is committed to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the avoidance of attempts to go down any other road.

On the question of statements on Irish unity, this matter was discussed in the multi-party talks and the Good Friday Agreement and, as was very clear at that time, it is two-fold. The issue is dealt with on the basis of consent and any decision to change the position will be made by a vote of the people in Northern Ireland. It was considered that after perhaps a decade of the working of the Good Friday Agreement, there would be polls from time to time, the first one taking place towards the end of this decade, in 2008.

The Good Friday Agreement has not been working as it was envisaged at that time. Hence, the reason this matter is not on the agenda or being discussed is that it has not formed the part which we wished, and that remains the position. It would be neither productive nor helpful to press the issue because it would be contrary to that to which we agreed and signed up. That is why it is not being discussed.

I assure Deputy Finian McGrath that while the issue is at times slow and painstaking, the reality is an enormous effort was made three times during 2003 and 2004. Each of those initiatives moved the process on and made substantial progress, but not enough. That is the issue. It is clear what might work. That is what we are endeavouring to do.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I read the Taoiseach's reply of 24 May this year to a series of questions about meetings. In the course of his reply, the Taoiseach said he would shortly meet representatives of Sinn Féin on a formal basis but that he did not have a date. Recently the national newspapers reported a number of so-called secret meetings the Taoiseach had with Sinn Féin representatives. Having had a very straightforward and unambiguous meeting with representatives of Sinn Féin after the McCartney murder and the Northern Bank raid, the Taoiseach sent the party away with a flea in its ear to come back with a clear and unambiguous report. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether this report of secret meetings is true? If so, was the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform present, what was the issue for discussion and where did these meetings take place?

If these meetings took place, does the Taoiseach not run the risk of creating a perception that the Government is tough on these matters in public but quite prepared to negotiate in private? Did the Taoiseach have formal meetings with the representatives of the Sinn Féin Party and secret meetings as well? Was the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform present and what was the purpose of these discussions?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not consider that I had any secret meetings. I am not responsible for headline writers. The content of that article was absolutely correct where I said I had a number of meetings. However, I had no secret meetings. As far as I am concerned, the meetings I have had are all on the record and are formal meetings. The fact press conferences are not held does not mean they are not formal meetings. I have such meetings with several leaders in Northern Ireland when they are here perhaps on other business. Nine times out of ten I meet them but we would not highlight the meetings. However, they are certainly not secret meetings.

The formal meeting in January attracted much publicity as did the meeting on 16 March. I had meetings prior, during and after the elections in the North attended only by Gerry Adams and me. They were by no means secret meetings. I would also have talked to senior members of the SDLP on the same basis.

The content of all my discussions with Sinn Féin has very much focused on the clarity we require if we are to bring issues forward. I am very clear that is the only way we can make progress and get the institutions back up and running. My primary concern in the coming months is to get the institutions back up and running.

While I do not formally meet Dr. Paisley all the time, we have ongoing contacts with the DUP through officials. At all times, we are very clear about what we are trying to achieve. All my efforts on both sides have been to try to reach a position whereby we get a certain set of circumstances with which we can run, otherwise the type of stalemate and dilemma about which Deputy Finian McGrath talked will persist. The response we await from the IRA and the type of issues that did not allow us to complete matters last December are very clear and clearly understood. It will be of little benefit having anything other than that to bring matters forward. I will discuss these issues again tomorrow with all the senior people in the DUP. My position is quite clear. I know what I hope to get in response. Whether we get that response, we will have to wait for the outcome of the IRA engagement. Equally, if we get such a response, we will have to tease out where we will go with the DUP. They are the two crucial elements for the next period.

I want to mention the secondary issues in particular because we are at the beginning of the difficult phase of the marching season. We can get confused as to when the marching season starts. It was months ago but we face the difficult phase of it this weekend beginning on Friday night. I emphasise the importance of all political leaders working to assist everybody to avoid some of the difficult issues around the marching season this year in particular. We need people's help and support on that. There are quite difficult issues facing us this weekend.

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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As Deputies Kenny and Finian McGrath said, there is a sense of a drift in the Northern peace process. Can the Taoiseach reassure us that drift will not continue into the summer? Has the Government a contingency plan to involve all the parties which need to be involved to make a breakthrough over the summer months, or will we have to wait into the autumn for that and would such a delay replicate the long delay in this regard during the UK election campaign period?

Is it not time and does the Taoiseach not consider there is potential to reclaim the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement which was entered into by all parties in this House? Does he not consider there is a need to involve the Opposition parties more directly given that under the Constitution, the Good Friday Agreement belongs to all the people and that such involvement would represent an initiative which has not been tried since the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation was stood down?

When the Taoiseach spoke at the Institute for British-Irish Studies conference in UCD he mentioned the need for co-operation North and South to tackle the global challenges this island faces. In that context, is he saying we need the institutions to be up and running and can do nothing before that, is he saying there is potential for interim arrangements, whether on the basis of civic society or any other initiative he might like to mention, or is he saying we can do nothing until the institutions are up and running again?

3:00 pm

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will take the Deputy's questions in reverse order. On the last point, that particular meeting, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting due to be held, the meetings that have taken place on east-west arrangements, including the one that took place two weeks ago and the one held in the Isle of Man, as well as the one to take place Monday week show the number of issues and degree of co-operation that is ongoing in spite of the limitations that exist. The Deputy is correct in pointing out there is a limitation. That exists because of the care and maintenance agreement we put in place to keep the North-South bodies operating after the institutions suspended. There are some sensitivities connected with that which we have done our best to work around.

Notwithstanding that, there is a great deal of co-operation, effort and dialogue from trade unions to business to agriculture to cultural bodies and that is positive. I have no doubt that if the institutions were up and running, such co-operation could be greatly fast-tracked because of its potential and the people engaged. While we would have to be sensitive about their particular perspectives, I know that if the institutions were up and running, they would do much more. That is not to say they are not doing their best. I understand their difficulties. It is a very positive programme.

On the question of the new initiatives, in recent weeks the Minister for Finance made a speech about infrastructure and the co-operation that could take place in the areas of energy, tourism, and inter-trade, all of which are good programmes. I commend all involved including the officials on our secretariat.

The difficulties in regard to the marching season are the worry. As always, everybody is needed in the engagement. Sometimes we forget the marching season is always very difficult and requires much effort by many people. As I have said time and again the effort is hugely appreciated but, particularly in the South sometimes, we do not appreciate just how difficult these situations are and much of the time they are not covered. If there is not a huge level of trouble nobody takes too much notice of them. There are huge sensitivities. There is much concern this year in Derry about the proposal by the Orange Order to have its main 12 July celebration in the city for the first time in 13 years which will attract enormous crowds. This is a matter to which I and others have devoted much time. The order is continuing to refuse to engage in direct talks with the residents in Derry, in contrast to the Apprentice Boys who continue to seek agreement on an annual basis. That is a very difficult issue.

We will not get any progress on Drumcree as there is a stalemate this year. We have had a number of meetings on that issue but, frankly, we have got nowhere this year. The Ardoyne area remains the kernel of the difficulties for the marching season this year. The Tour of the North parade takes place on Friday. That is one of the reasons for the meetings tomorrow and we need much co-operation to avoid difficulties. I have had representations from many communities in the North on this issue and how it runs into the whole shopping area and into the Crumlin Road. As the Deputy will recall we were fortunate in the Ardoyne on 12 July last year in that a dangerous situation was avoided. This is the first engagement since that time. I appreciate the efforts of those who worked hard to avoid such a dangerous situation. We have to get over that period and quickly progress the dialogue. I do not see us getting it sorted out this side of 12 July, but sometime around then or afterwards we have to progress the dialogue. We are entering a difficult position between now and 12 July.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Has the Government any information which the Taoiseach can give to the House on the involvement of the IRA in the money laundering activities that were the subject of much Garda activity and publicity last February? Will the Taoiseach refer back to the business of secret meetings with Mr. Adams? Does he accept there is a thin line as to whether these meetings were secret or private? Does he accept there may be questions about the wisdom of such meetings given the belief in other quarters that such meetings can lead to various deals on the side, understandings and so on that may give rise to difficulties later? Can the Taoiseach point to anything on the record of the House, before that particular story appeared in the Irish Independent, where he advised the House about what he calls private meetings and what the Irish Independent calls secret meetings? I have not been able to put my finger on an instance of the Taoiseach advising the House of these meetings. Have there been similar meetings with any of the other parties to the peace process or is Mr. Adams the only one who has had these private or secret meetings with the Taoiseach?

Has the Taoiseach raised the recent report of the Independent Monitoring Commission with Mr. Adams at any of these meetings? I presume I can take it the Taoiseach accepts the report of the IMC which suggests the IRA is still training, recruiting, gathering intelligence, engaging in punishment attacks and so on. Did the Taoiseach ask Mr. Adams to reconcile this with his other public statements? Will the Taoiseach indicate what is his bottom line in terms of the anticipated imminent statement from the IRA? Is he satisfied that as a result of these meetings with Mr. Adams, it is clearly understood that this is make or break time for the Agreement and that either the republican movement understands that it takes the final steps into the democratic arena or it does not and that a halfway house will not provide any opportunity for the institutions in Northern Ireland to be revived and refurbished?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will try to answer all those questions. The investigations into money laundering are ongoing. The Garda Síochána is pursuing a number of lines of investigation but obviously it is not appropriate for me to give further details and quite a number of people are involved in that operation.

I have had no secret meetings with Gerry Adams. I have said in the House many times that despite all the difficulties, I have made it absolutely clear that the Government will maintain dialogue with Sinn Féin and this is what I have continued to do. My meetings with Gerry Adams were consistent with this. On balance these meetings were better conducted when away from the glare of publicity. There is no need for a press conference after every meeting, particularly when awaiting the consultative process. There would not be much to be said to the press.

If one were holding secret meetings, one would not meet an eminent and senior member of Independent Newspapers to inform them of the fact. The text of the article is what I said. I wish I could influence the people who write newspaper headlines because the headlines would be very different if I had any say but as the world knows, unfortunately I have no say in headlines.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach does not do too badly.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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If I ever have the power to influence them I would be very glad to avail of Deputy Rabbitte's assistance in trying to alter them.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am only in the ha'penny place.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issues we discussed were very straightforward and have been well rehearsed in the public domain. Deputy Rabbitte is correct that at all times I try to give an absolutely clear position as to what the Irish Government requires before we believe we can get the institutions up and running again, even though there will be many difficulties with Unionism in doing that. The issues for moving forward are the total end of paramilitarism, the end of related criminality, as we see it, and the issue of decommissioning being properly and adequately dealt with. It is only on that basis that we can move forward. In all my discussions we have discussed those matters. Obviously it is for me to put forward my view and for Gerry Adams to give me his views on the deliberation and other issues that are going on. However, he is in the same position as I am on these issues. He is waiting for these matters to be brought to an end.

We have talked about the IMC report and the issues involved. I have always accepted the conclusions of these reports and I consider that the IMC is worried about these issues. As I have said the paramilitary organisations continue to recruit and train. The police service and the Independent Monitoring Commission share that view. I have said this in the House on a number of occasions recently. However, I know that is also the nature of those organisations, which is why we need a definitive end to their activities. They will continue to follow this system as long as they are there, which is the difficulty. This activity places an unacceptable burden on ordinary people who just want to get on and live their lives and it also poses a broader threat to the peace process and to all our hopes for a prosperous future. In reply to Deputy Rabbitte, I have been very clear since January. I have not had that many meetings since January. I mentioned one in January, one in Washington and possibly three or four since March. I have been very consistent in my position.

In terms of other parties, on a very regular basis I deal with all kinds of people from all kinds of organisations in the North. I do not report every meeting to the House because of the difficulties for the people involved. They meet me on a private basis with the agreement of their organisations but do not want the meetings made public. In the political sphere I continue to meet politicians from different parties at different levels who are in Dublin and have something they wish to say. I do that regularly at short notice and at weekends when people are in town for other business. I continue to do that, as while it is time consuming, it is a very helpful part of the process.

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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What was the purpose of the meeting between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and the British Secretary of State, Mr. Peter Hain, in Dublin yesterday? Does this signal an increased role for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the peace process? Does the Taoiseach know that such a development would be unwelcomed by people within the republican and Nationalist community throughout the island of Ireland and also by some if not many members of his party?

Is the Taoiseach aware that the DUP is openly boasting in briefings internally to its members and to the wider Unionist community that it has successfully divided Irish nationalism? Does the Taoiseach view this as a welcome or positive development? Despite Sinn Féin's increased mandate at both the local and Westminster elections, is the Taoiseach aware that the DUP is calling for the British Government to impose further sanctions against Sinn Féin and is also pursuing a policy of exclusion regarding Sinn Féin in any future Executive? When meeting its representatives next week, will the Taoiseach impress on the DUP that the proposed voluntary coalition is a non-runner and that progress can only be made if the DUP clearly shows a willingness to embrace democratic principles and to accept the mandate of all parties as equal?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will start at the end. Obviously I have been endeavouring to convince Dr. Paisley that there is only one way forward. The only plan is the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions created by it. That has been our consistent agenda. Deputy Ferris knows that successive Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have been involved in all peace talks since 1991. The current Minister is no different to any other. That is the way it will continue, whether or not people like that. I am sure that will continue into the distant future.

I read an interview given by the DUP in today's Belfast Newsletter and I do not note anything in it suggested by the Deputy. He claimed that in briefings to its party members, it has been boasting of dividing Irish nationalism. The DUP is only in that position if circumstances allow it and the Deputy should know what those circumstances are. The only thing that puts me on the back foot is when I must explain the unexplainable, which is difficult. When everyone from a nationalist background is following the rule of law and democracy I have no difficulty explaining things. If I have clear answers to the questions I have been asking for the last six months, I will be in a far better position and there will be no divisions within Irish nationalism.