Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to his interview in a newspaper (details supplied) on 9 May 2006, the Government position on Sinn Féin supporting the PSNI and joining the Northern Ireland Policing Board, has changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19721/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to his interview in a newspaper (details supplied) on 9 May 2006, he will clarify his position on Sinn Féin joining the Northern Ireland Policing Board; if the Government is demanding that Sinn Féin express its support publicly for the PSNI before the Executive is formed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19720/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to Sinn Féin joining the Northern Ireland Policing Board; if the formation of a new Executive in Northern Ireland will be accompanied by Sinn Féin signalling support for the PSNI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19719/06]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his interview in a newspaper (details supplied) on 9 May 2006, the elements of the Patten report that have to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19722/06]

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 70, 147 and 150 together.

The Government has been clear and consistent on the issue of policing in Northern Ireland. Through the progressive implementation of the Patten report, the PSNI has undergone a wide-ranging transformation in recent years, and is now one of the most accountable policing services worldwide. It merits the active support of all sections of the community in Northern Ireland.

Therefore, we have called on all political parties to support these new policing arrangements. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated in the Dáil on 4 April last, there are no substantive reasons in terms of policing reform for any further delay by Sinn Féin in endorsing the new policing arrangements. Such endorsement should include participation in the policing board and district policing partnerships. Sinn Féin should also encourage Nationalist communities to co-operate with the police in the prevention and detection of crime, thereby helping to implement the core Patten recommendations on policing within the community.

Regarding the degree of implementation of the Patten report, we fully agree with the assessment of the independent policing Oversight Commissioner that the policing reform process in Northern Ireland has been remarkable and unprecedented. I also acknowledge the unstinting efforts of the SDLP on the policing board on which, working together with such committed independent members as Denis Bradley and others, it has been instrumental in driving the Patten project forward over the past five years.

Given the complexity and ambition of the project, a number of outstanding issues remain which require attention and about which both Nationalist parties in Northern Ireland are concerned. For example, these include the low level of Nationalist representation among the civilian staff in the PSNI and the recent decision to give primacy to MI5 for intelligence matters. Both the SDLP and Sinn Féin seek reassurances that their concerns regarding these issues will be addressed. The Oversight Commissioner will report on the outstanding recommendations in his forthcoming report which is due out in the coming weeks.

However, I emphasise that these few outstanding issues should not preclude Sinn Féin from endorsing policing. The absence of that party from the policing board and district policing partnerships is the most significant omission in terms of implementing the Patten recommendations. In the context of the ongoing political process, support for policing remains a critical element in implementing a new political dispensation for Northern Ireland.

In the joint statement made in Armagh on 6 April last, both Governments recognised the importance of policing and the need for progress on that front. Clearly, the more progress made on policing the better the climate of trust and confidence that will be engendered. Both Governments want to see such progress and the Government wants Sinn Féin to take the necessary steps without delay. Equally, however, both Governments are clear that it is not helpful at this stage to set preconditions or to erect new barriers to political progress.

The Government wants the policing issue to be resolved in the context of a restored Executive later in the year and will continue to work to resolve this and other outstanding issues in the period ahead.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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While I am grateful to the Minister of State, perhaps the clarification in the long reply was insufficient. After the meeting at Farmleigh, the joint statement issued by the two Governments suggested that Sinn Féin needed to confront the issue of policing once and for all. It noted that by the summer, the Governments wanted Sinn Féin to give full recognition to the PSNI for the first time and to join the policing boards. This would clear the way for the devolution of policing powers to a restored Northern Executive.

However, in an interview conducted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, with The Irish Times — this is a separate issue on which I have my own view — he suggested that Sinn Féin's participation in the policing board was not a precondition for the devolved functions and powers which will be assessed in November. Which is it? That is a straightforward question.

Is the Minister of State aware that he has described a kind of conundrum which cannot be resolved? Is the Government in favour of Sinn Féin joining the policing board so that afterwards powers would be devolved in respect of policing, its control and whatever would be satisfactory? Or can one have the institutions working first, with Sinn Féin's relationship with the policing board to follow, even though the Minister of State has paid tribute to the decision of the SDLP to participate? The Minister of State cannot have it both ways.

Does the Minister of State agree that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has handed an instrument to the DUP? That is to say, the Patten reforms have not been completely implemented and the Minister of State has clarified that point to an extent. However, one can hardly state that non-completion of the Patten reforms through the non-participation of Sinn Féin is a valid reason if one has resiled from the commitment of both Governments after the Farmleigh meeting to suggest that Sinn Féin should participate as quickly as possible.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The position is clear. The Government has been absolutely even-handed in its dealings in this regard and in all activities in Northern Ireland. It wants inclusiveness, engagement and participation. It wants all those with political mandates to discharge them and to fulfil their obligations to those who elected them by participating in the various structures at every level, including the policing board. This is extremely important.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State wish to see much of this take place before November?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government fully agrees with the assessment of the policing Oversight Commissioner that the policing reform in Northern Ireland has been remarkable. One would be hard pressed to find an equivalent process of root and branch reform of policing in any other democratic country in the world. In such a major undertaking, it is not surprising that a number of recommendations have yet to be fully implemented. In his last major report, the Oversight Commissioner indicated that 114 out of the 175 recommendations have been fully implemented.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Yes.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The remaining 61 recommendations are in varying degrees of implementation. As I noted earlier, the Oversight Commissioner will report on the outstanding issues in his next report, which is due shortly.

The outstanding issues include representativeness, including the PSNI civilian support staff, training and policing college, community policing, the question of the primacy of national security and the police reserve. It will be important to bring this process to fruition.

On behalf of the Government and this House, I again emphasise that the few outstanding issues should not preclude Sinn Féin from endorsing policing, nor should it prevent any part of the community from co-operating with the police. It is critically important that leadership is given and every opportunity is taken, including Sinn Féin's involvement with policing, to make the necessary progress and for the Executive to make its deadline by November. It is critically important and vital for the well-being of the people of Northern Ireland, for the representation of the nationalist community, for balance within the policing operation and for absolute totality of operation and representativeness for all, that Sinn Féin become involved. The Government wants this to take place as soon as possible.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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On the 61 outstanding items on the Patten list, is it the Government's position that it asks Sinn Féin to make a gesture of trust and to become involved before the 61 items are completely resolved? Paradoxically, one of the items is the participation of Sinn Féin itself. Is that the position?

Second, does the Minister of State view such an act of trust as being essential before November? Does he accept there is a great danger that if such an action has not taken place, it would be used by those on the other side who may not be in any way committed to sufficient reforms? I refer to reforms, such as those outlined in the Patten report, that would provide the kind of police force that would enjoy the universal respect of people in Northern Ireland.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and my other colleagues have made it clear, on behalf of the Government, that it wants the policing issue to be resolved in the context of a restored Executive later in the year. The Government will do everything in its power to advance this issue to the greatest possible extent, bearing in mind the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the policing issue. While there can be no guarantees on the outcome, the Government will continue to press for a resolution of this extremely important issue. Trust is critical and respect is vital. Participation in and engagement with the policing authority would build trust and would help achieve an active, representative and engaged Executive that would fulfil the political mandate from the people. This would be a major boost for Northern Ireland. There is a great challenge here. There is a huge responsibility. However, this is a moment where people must take the steps that are critical and we want everybody to move together in all aspects, including Sinn Féin.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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How did it help matters for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to suggest that none of this was really that important before November?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I believe that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been taken out of context in this matter. He has been very consistent on behalf of the Government. He has been critically involved in the mainstream negotiations at the highest level of detail with all the different actors, personalities, parties and groups. At all times the Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government wants to ensure that everybody works together, which is critical for Northern Ireland. As individuals, political parties, Governments and community leaders both in Northern Ireland and here in the South it is vital that we all recognise this. We again make a special appeal to all those who have this in their hands, who have leadership responsibility and a political mandate to ensure they discharge that mandate, fulfil their obligation and participate so that we can achieve the progress that is critical to all the people in Northern Ireland and vital for the future of the island.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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That is a most worthy sentiment. The Minister for Foreign Affairs also made some other comments to the effect that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, was on a kind of electoral stunt regarding the anti-criminality campaign. I believe the phrase used was "electoralism". He more or less said that certain things get said in the run-in to an election, which was how the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, referred to the much publicised campaign of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, against Sinn Féin criminality in his interview with Frank Millar. Is the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, also involved in electoralism when he speaks?

Perhaps the Minister for Foreign Affairs has a more informed view as well as being committed to the high principles the Minister of State has just outlined. The Minister of State spoke about unity and everybody working together. Is the division between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Defence just one of those trivial differences that might be expected in the Cabinet or is it more substantive? Which of the Ministers are we to believe? Is the criticism of references to Sinn Féin criminality electoralism or is it the view of Government?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There is no division within Government. There is a commonality of commitment in ensuring that all the Ministers discharge their obligations taking into account the different portfolios they have, the serious responsibilities they must discharge and the different responsibilities that are peculiar to those Ministries. Ultimately, there is a unity of purpose to ensure that not alone do we discharge our obligations here in the Republic, but that we also support on a North-South and east-west basis, the people of Northern Ireland to make progress and work together to get the structures to which they are democratically entitled so that we can have an executive in Northern Ireland delivering to the people of Northern Ireland.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Thankfully it will be the membership of Sinn Féin that will determine our response to policing as it presents at any given time in the North of Ireland and any plans and proposals regarding same.

Does the Minister of State agree that the most pressing issue at this time is to get the political institutions operating and that setting arbitrary preconditions is totally unhelpful? The Minister of State will be aware that during this week, the Sinn Féin president, Mr. Gerry Adams, proposed Mr. Ian Paisley for the position of First Minister and Mr. Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister. He set out our party's absolute intention to get the political institutions operating again as soon as possible. Would the Minister of State agree that the best way for that to work is for all parties, including those in this House, to play a constructive role? Can the Minister of State outline to the Dáil the steps the Government proposes to take to make progress towards the re-establishment of the Executive in the immediate period ahead? Is it a case — I hope not — of watching matters as they unfold? What steps, if any, are being considered or pursued by Government to achieve that end?

It is not only the 61-odd matters that have yet to be addressed within the Patten proposals. We have yet to see sight of the facilitation legislation from the British Government, which will be critical in informing Sinn Féin's response. The issue of policing has a personal resonance in my case. Allegations were made last night on a BBC television programme by a retired RUC CID member Trevor McIlwrath concerning the involvement of at least two British agents in an attempted bomb attack on the Sinn Féin office in Monaghan town, which happens to be my constituency office, in March 1997, shortly before my election to this House. There was advance knowledge on the part of both the RUC special branch and CID about that operation.

As a Member of this House, whose life and the lives of whose colleagues in his constituency office were clearly at risk by that operation with the full knowledge of the RUC and the CID in the North and was carried out by agents of same, I ask what steps have been taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise this matter with his counterpart in the North of Ireland? I take no pleasure in asking this question, but I must do so. With such certainty of foreknowledge now established on the part of the RUC and CID, is there any question that there was foreknowledge in the Garda of the intended attack on the Sinn Féin office in Dublin Street in Monaghan town? Has that been inquired into? Has it been established? Can we have an assurance, if not before the House this afternoon, at the earliest opportunity that there was no such knowledge?

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I totally condemn the attack on that office, as any right-minded person or any leader of any type be it at community level or political level would. It is disastrous that these things happen. I am not aware of the programme and did not see it. I have no knowledge of that to which the Deputy has referred. I will do some research as a result of what he has said. I fully respect his point and in all my answers on this issue I have not said otherwise. The right of the membership of Sinn Féin to take its decision on this issue is a matter for that political party.

The Government has pressed and will continue to press for clear tangible progress in this area in Northern Ireland in the period ahead. For its part, Sinn Féin recognises that the issue of policing must be resolved. It realises that it must take the necessary steps and face up to the policing issue, which we respect. There have been positive developments on that score, for example the recent remarks on the need to resolve this issue by Mr. Gerry Adams, to which the Deputy has already alluded, as well as unprecedented comments by the Sinn Féin leadership on criminality. There are also reports of some thawing of attitudes towards the PSNI in strong Nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. While these are helpful developments they represent only a start and there are many more steps to take.

The Deputy asked what we will do. We will continue to press for greater movement in the coming months at every level — at prime minister level between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister; at foreign affairs level between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his colleagues in the UK, at justice minister level and at strand one level, in which I have been involved. We will use every possible opportunity to ensure progress is made. It is critically important that the political parties, including Sinn Féin, move forward, have confidence, respect their mandate, deliver on their obligations and participate to sustain the structures that will create the Executive, which will operate with a democratic mandate and deliver services to the people of Northern Ireland who deserve it. That can be achieved between now and November if we all move forward together.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State agree it would be entirely helpful for him to ask his colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to clarify the issues raised by Deputy Ó Caoláin rather than leave them out there? If they are not clarified, they will become another obstacle to the decision that will be taken by the members of Sinn Féin, which should be avoided.