Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 November 2007

Ceisteanna — Questions

Northern Ireland Issues.

10:30 am

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the meeting of the British-Irish Council in Belfast on 16 July 2007. [19876/07]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on meetings he has had with other participants on the margins of the British-Irish Council meeting in Belfast on 16 July 2007. [19877/07]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh on 17 July 2007. [19878/07]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions that have taken place with the social partners arising from the conclusions of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh on 17 July 2007 regarding the establishment of the North-South consultative forum, first proposed in the Belfast Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19879/07]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on recent developments in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20264/07]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his contacts with the political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20265/07]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his contacts with the new British Prime Minister, Mr. Brown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20266/07]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the steps he will take to maintain the British-Irish relations fostered by Prime Minister Blair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/07]

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussions he has had with the new British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, on the Irish peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20607/07]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he, his Department or anyone acting on behalf of his Department made representations to the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development, Ms. Margaret Ritchie MLA, in connection with her decision to withhold certain funding under the conflict transformation initiative as a result of the refusal of the UDA to begin decommissioning its weapons; the nature of such representations made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26056/07]

11:00 am

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together.

I led the Irish Government delegation to the British Irish Council summit on 16 July in Belfast. Prime Minister Brown led the British Government delegation. The BIC was chaired by First Minister Paisley and Deputy First Minister McGuinness. The Northern Ireland Executive was also represented by a number of Ministers. We were also joined by representatives from the administrations of Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

This was a truly historic event. It was the first summit meeting of the council since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2007 and the first summit to take place in Northern Ireland. It was also the first occasion on which the eight heads of administration had the opportunity to meet together since the recent elections in other member administrations.

At the meeting, the council discussed how the BIC might develop its work, now that all eight members are again represented by their respective administrations. We also discussed transport infrastructure links as well as other issues, including the misuse of drugs, the environment, e-health, tourism, the knowledge economy, indigenous, minority and lesser used languages, social inclusion and demography.

I led the Government delegation at the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on 17 July in Armagh. This was the first meeting of the NSMC since its restoration to full operation following the recent historic agreement in Northern Ireland. The meeting was an important opportunity for me and my Government colleagues to discuss North-South co-operation with the First and Deputy First Minister and Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive. A number of items were discussed, including cross-Border co-operation on roads, the proposed restoration of the Ulster Canal, the independent North-South consultative forum and the North-South parliamentary forum.

Other issues discussed included recent progress and future potential for North-South co-operation and the review of the North-South bodies and areas of co-operation. That review has commenced and is due to be completed in the spring. Since then, a number of NSMC meetings at sectoral level have also taken place.

The British-Irish Council meeting in Belfast provided an opportunity for my first formal meeting with British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. During our meeting, we discussed the next phase of the process in Northern Ireland and the wider relationship between Ireland and Britain. We agreed to meet regularly and to further develop co-operation on economic and EU issues as well as review progress on the peace process in Northern Ireland. The relationship between Ireland and Britain is very strong and I look forward to maintaining and improving the partnership we have built in recent years. This meeting with Prime Minister Brown was my only official meeting on the margins of the BIC summit.

I met Deputy First Minister McGuinness on 23 July in Government Buildings.

At the NSMC meeting, it was noted that the Irish Government would consult the social partners on the North-South consultative forum and consultations will take place shortly. There were initial consultations with the social partners on the establishment of a North-South consultative forum at their steering group meeting on 9 October last. There will be further discussions with the social partners on this matter in the near future.

I visited Derry and Omagh on Friday 2 November. In the course of my address to the Derry Chamber of Commerce, I emphasised our commitment to pursuing practical cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive through the North-South Ministerial Council, to the development of the north-west region through the north-west gateway initiative and to the development of the region's transport infrastructure through the budgetary allocations in the national development plan. I also met business and community leaders and we discussed a range of local issues.

Mayor Drew Thompson hosted a reception in the Guildhall, where I had the opportunity to acknowledge the work done by Derry's political leaders in advancing the cause of peace and in the establishment of the devolved institutions. I also visited the Tower Museum to view an exhibition on the history of Derry and I visited Foyle Hospice which serves the community on a cross-Border basis.

On my visit to the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, I commended the Council for its work in bringing such a landmark project to fruition. It is a project that will add greatly to the rich cultural heritage of the town.

I met the First Minister, Dr. Ian Paisley, in Government Buildings on Saturday 3 November. We discussed a wide range of issues, including shared heritage issues and current political and economic issues.

I met the Consultative Group on the Past, co-chaired by Lord Robin Eames and Denis Bradley, in Government Buildings on Monday, 5 November. While our focus must be on building a better future for everyone on this island, we also need to address the human legacy of the conflict. I fully support the work of the group. It has an important and difficult task and I wish it well in its work.

The question of the funding for the conflict transformation initiative in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive. The Government's position was set out on 10 August when the Minister for Foreign Affairs issued a statement endorsing Minister Margaret Ritchie's robust statement that paramilitary violence and criminality has no place in a Northern Ireland that is fast moving beyond conflict.

I warmly welcome the statement by the UDA on Sunday last, in particular its acknowledgement that the conflict is over and its commitment to achieving a society where violence and weaponry belong to the past. The commitments to stand-down the UFF in its entirety and to put all weaponry beyond use are to be welcomed. The condemnation of crime and criminality is also important, including the recognition of the damage done to loyalist communities by those engaged in drug-dealing. The task now for the organisation is to deliver on these commitments in full, including through early engagement with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. This statement is significant and hopefully signals a further step towards the ending of all paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

It is important that we remember at this time the victims and survivors of UDA violence, an organisation which carried out appalling atrocities during the conflict in Northern Ireland, just as we remember all those who suffered as a result of paramilitary violence from whatever source. It is my enduring hope that those days are gone and that the era of paramilitarism is now being left behind for ever. The Government has been clear that we want to see all communities benefit from the peace process. We will give our support to those in loyalism who are genuinely working to bring about positive change on behalf of their communities.

I welcome the report of the IMC which was published on 7 November and which deals with paramilitary activity. The Government notes with concern the IMC's comments about the continuing violence and criminality of dissident republican groups. I take the opportunity to condemn in the strongest possible terms the appalling attacks on members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in recent days. The Garda Síochána, in co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, will continue to take any steps necessary to counter the threat posed by these anti-democratic organisations. There is no place for violence and criminality in the future of Northern Ireland.

Since May, we have seen a remarkable transformation in politics in Northern Ireland and on this island. All the democratic institutions are fully operational, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council, as the people intended when they voted overwhelmingly for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Despite the occasional political tensions, which can occur in any democratic system, they are now working intensively for the benefit of all the people in a spirit of co-operation and based firmly on the principles of peace and democracy.

As I noted in my reply, I visited Omagh ten days ago. I express my sympathies again to the people of Omagh and in particular to those who were bereaved in the tragic fire of yesterday morning. It was a horrific event for the community, those close to the family and their friends. I wish to put on the record of the House the Government's condolences to and sympathy with the entire community in Omagh.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On behalf of the Labour Party, I join the Taoiseach in expressing our condolences to those families bereaved by the fire in Omagh, as well as to the town itself, which has suffered many different atrocities down the years.

I acknowledge the work of the Taoiseach and Tony Blair in respect of the time, effort and commitment they have given to ensure the successful restoration of the Executive and the Assembly. It is visible to all that the relationship between Sinn Féin and the DUP in the context of the Executive and the Assembly is working extremely well. However, is the Taoiseach concerned that to some extent, this has been at the expense of the SDLP and the UUP, which appear to be somewhat excluded? I also wish to raise the issue of the sole SDLP member of the Executive, namely, the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, MLA. I refer to the decision she took to withhold funding under the conflict transformation initiative because of the failure of the UDA to deliver on promises on decommissioning. Does the Taoiseach agree she took the correct stance? I believe she did so.

The Taoiseach may have seen a report in the edition of The Irish Times published on 19 October in which the Minister, Ms Ritchie, claimed she had come under some pressure from the Department of Foreign Affairs to ameliorate her stance. What did this involve? Was it simply part of normal discussions or was she advised by the powers that be in the Department of Foreign Affairs to alter her stance? Circumstances have certainly shown that her position was correct. Now that a general standing down has taken place in respect of more of the loyalist paramilitary organisations, her stance has been vindicated. The Taoiseach should comment on this matter.

What is the Taoiseach's take on the present position in respect of the activities of the Real IRA and others who may have left IRA organisations? He is probably aware that a couple of shootings at policemen, as well as the horrific murder of Paul Quinn, have taken place in recent weeks. That particular murder involved a degree of violence that most people had hoped had passed. On Monday, Mr. John Grieve, who is a member of the International Monitoring Commission, suggested that he believed that those who were involved in the attack included people who were members, former members or those who have associations with members or former members of the Provisional IRA. Is this consistent with the intelligence that is available to the Taoiseach and the Government?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for her supportive remarks. I spoke to Margaret Ritchie last week. The Government, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and me, has been supportive. While I did not issue a statement in the heat of the period, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, did so. He issued a very strong and forthright statement in support of her at a time when the issue was at its height a few months ago. Obviously, there is ongoing contact with officials, as we have a number of senior officials based in the North, and we have been supportive of her. I do not wish to get into what happened within the Executive. Obviously, some of her colleagues in the Executive took the issue to a vote. Peter Robinson said some very hard things to the effect that she was acting outside her remit, but I do not wish to interfere with that. The issue was dealt with.

Her stance was courageous and was in line with the stance taken for years by the Government in trying to reward those who are involved in trying to bring about peace while trying to be as firm as possible towards those who are not. Some individuals within the UDA and other loyalist groups have been trying very hard to co-operate, while others have not and have been associated with criminality. The Government has always taken the position to support those who have been trying to make progress and bring matters forward.

I have concerns in respect of the dissident groups. Colleagues and others will be aware that when I visited Derry two weeks ago, I made a statement to that effect. A variety of splinter groups are extant, none of which is up to any good and collectively they continue to cause a problem. The police officer who was shot on Thursday, thankfully, was lucky to survive an attack with a shotgun. An attack this week has left a police officer with serious injuries and I send our best wishes to him and his family. Two arrests have arisen from that case. There is dissident activity and while it may not be significant in numbers, enough Members will remember other times, North and South, that showed how small groups can make much trouble. While I do not wish to give respect to the organisation in question by recalling its name, Members will remember its activities here a long time ago. There is a hard core group that is out to create as much embarrassment, trouble, harassment and killing as possible, and the security forces must be extremely vigilant.

As for the murder of Paul Quinn, the intelligence in this regard is that it was not paramilitary but pertained to feuds about criminality that were taking place. However, it is important that the significant efforts that are being made, North and South, will result in arrests in this case. I spoke to the Garda Commissioner last night about this matter, as well as to Garda officers and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A dedicated effort is being made to achieve arrests in this case. I am strongly behind such an effort because, for obvious reasons, it is of major importance to the Government in this case to try to find the perpetrators of what was a horrendous and vile act. I only needed to read half the report on the incident. While there are many things I do not understand, I find it hard to understand how anyone living on this island or this planet could do such things. For that reason and many others, I would like to see them serve their due sentence.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I join the Taoiseach and Deputy Burton in expressing the sympathy of the House towards the families of those who lost their lives in the inferno in Omagh. I am sure the neighbours who heard the screams of those children will be haunted forever. It goes through you when you see the picture in today's newspaper.

The remarks by the Taoiseach shortly after the murder of Paul Quinn disassociated the provisional movement from that crime. Will the Taoiseach comment on the remark by a member of the IMC that this murder was committed by present or former members of the IRA or their associates? Will he comment on the fact that those who committed that murder were dressed in boiler suits and surgical gloves, which was the trademark of IRA punishment squads?

In respect of the shooting of a PSNI officer in Dungannon, does the Taoiseach feel there is a movement to return to this sort of activity among dissident republicans? Does he have any information to that effect? For everybody's sake, we do not want a drift back towards such actions on any side. I support the remarks of Deputy Burton about Margaret Ritchie. Her decision was the correct one and it took courage to carry out. I am glad the Taoiseach has reiterated that in the Government's view, this was the right thing to do.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I can only convey to Deputy Kenny the information I have been given and continue to be given by the Garda and the PSNI. The Garda has advised that there is no information available to suggest that the attack was authorised or carried out by or on behalf of any paramilitary grouping. That is also, I understand, the position of the Chief Constable of the PSNI. I cannot say what some of these people might have been involved or associated with in the past. I have read reports of this, but I can only deal with the present situation.

The IMC has not reported formally on the murder of Paul Quinn. It has a process for doing that. It is open to it to set out its assessment of the matter in light of the information available in its next formal report to the Government. I am aware of the comments made at a press conference yesterday to the effect that the people who carried out this terrible act, whatever their past history, must be found and charged in accordance with the rule of law. That is what all decent people want to see. There is a dedicated and focused effort being made by the Garda, in conjunction with the PSNI, to ensure that this is done. The Garda has gone beyond the call of duty on this case as its detective units are operating very intensely in the Border areas, which I support.

I cannot tell Deputy Kenny any more than that I am concerned about three dissident groups currently operating in Northern Ireland on what would be considered to be the republican side, if we can give it that name, which I do not particularly want to. There is the Continuity IRA, the Real IRA and a new grouping that calls itself Óglaigh na hÉireann. All three of these have the capacity to cause trouble and two of them are certainly involved in the present troubles. They are small groups which do not contain any prominent people from the past but consist of a younger generation.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On a different matter, comments have been made by members of the UUP and the SDLP that they do not see the inclusive Executive as being politically sustainable. Does the Taoiseach have a view on that? Does the Government feel that if there is an inability to make decisions within the Executive and the Assembly, voluntary coalitions may be formed as time goes by? Does the Taoiseach have any indication of the relevance of this to the continuation of the Assembly?

While this is a matter strictly for Fianna Fáil and the SDLP as parties, I note that the Minister for Foreign Affairs seems to be heading up a sort of charge on behalf of the party up there with regard to organising for elections and so on. In view of the much more serious requirement to implement the Good Friday Agreement in full, the Taoiseach's view should be that the Government must direct all its energies towards full and successful completion of the Agreement. Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the Agreement and it may be in the Taoiseach's mind to have an anniversary celebration for a successful Agreement in the hope that progress will continue to be made towards implementing it in full.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny asked about the SDLP, the UUP and the Northern Ireland Executive. In only six months extraordinary progress has been made. In recent weeks the first budget was completed, setting out a financial framework for next year and for the future. The programme for Govenrment has also been completed. I met Ms Richie this day last week when she was here for a meeting with colleagues. We have had several meetings with different members of the Executive and British MPs. From what we can see, they are working extremely well together. It is a great achievement. I should have acknowledged in my reply their success in putting together a programme for Government and setting out their budget.

Members of the Assembly are also intensely involved in discussions in Europe. The President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso, met some members and was impressed with their collective efforts to move issues forward. They have been involved in discussions with the Treasury and here with the Tánaiste on the north-west gateway initiative and other programmes. Next month they will make an important visit to the United States. Again, this will be a collective visit. The image of members of all parties — including the First Minister, who is a member of the DUP, the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and members of the UUP and SDLP — working together inspires huge confidence. It is also helpful in terms of business and tourism. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Brennan, had a meeting with his Northern Ireland counterpart the other day to discuss tourism plans for the next few years. Overall, they are working well together.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I join colleagues in expressing sympathy to both the McElhill and McGovern families on the tragic loss of the parents and children in the terrible fire in the town of Omagh yesterday morning.

On what can only be described as the brutal and savage murder of Paul Quinn in my constituency, I once again condemn this murder in the strongest possible terms. I do so again here today, and in conjunction with my colleagues' voices in Sinn Féin I once again call on people to provide any information they may have on this savage attack to either the Garda or the PSNI. I join with the Taoiseach in expressing the hope that those responsible will be brought to justice at the earliest opportunity.

I acknowledge that the following does not apply to any of those who have questioned this matter here this morning, but there are others who have used this terrible event in order to undermine the political project on which we all have embarked in creating a new dispensation across this island and there are also those who would seek to demonise the entire republican community of south Armagh. I reject both of those intents and the people responsible for them.

The remarks of the IMC member yesterday are a statement and equate with speculation. Within the remarks made, there was not one verified fact. If the person responsible for those remarks has specific information, it is important that he present that information to either the Garda or the PSNI.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must remind Deputy Ó Caoláin that this is Question Time.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate that.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Question Time does not involve imparting information. It involves seeking information. I really must remind Deputy Ó Caoláin of that.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I accept that. Nevertheless, it was important to put those remarks on the record.

In the programme for Government under the "Peace and Unity" heading, the Government commits itself to the development of cross-Border projects. Included among these are the Monaghan-Derry dual-carriageway link along the N2-A5, the Ulster Canal and the bridge at Narrow Water. Progress has been made on each of these projects. I request that the Taoiseach share with us here this morning the progress made to date and his expectations of each of these moving towards specific work on the ground.

Can he elaborate on the commitments to complete — I use the word "complete" quite purposely because I acknowledge that some progress has been made in the telecommunications sector — the removal of North-South telecommunications charges and bank charges? Each of these are commitments within the programme for Government. What has been done to remove these charges across the board? Can the Taoiseach advise the House on the responses the Government has received through its various approaches to both the telecommunications companies and the banking institutions, North and South?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the North-South elements of the national development plan, our new plan covers the period to 2013. It sets out a comprehensive overview of the all-island co-operation and the proposals for enhancing co-operation in a range of areas — transport, education, research and development and health. These include joint investment in strategic projects that will be of mutual benefit to both jurisdictions and a more effective use of the existing funding on an all-island basis. It is also a good timely development for us in North-South co-operation and there has been a comprehensive overview of that co-operation.

On the projects about which Deputy Ó Caoláin asked, the NDP identified key areas for joint investment initiatives. Included in this is a new strategic projects proposal to complete a high quality road network on the inter-urban routes linking the major population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the north-west, with particular development of the dual-carriageway standard road to Derry and Donegal, and remove the single largest impediment to the future development of the Border counties. Both organisations, the NRA and its northern counterpart, and the Departments are working on that. When I visited Derry and Omagh I met some of the relevant people to try to move it on. We are anxious to make as much progress as possible as quickly as possible in the same way as we deal with a project here. We have put together all our expertise and all our departmental officials to make that progress, particularly on the road project.

We have committed to examining the restoration of the Ulster Canal as a joint project with Northern Ireland. This was considered at the meeting in July and it was agreed that the section of the Ulster Canal between Clones and Lough Erne would be restored. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, who has been taking the lead on that project, has had a number of meetings since September on it.

Now that the Northern Ireland Executive is up and running, it will benefit from the improved financial package that was announced in April last by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. The package consisted of €35 million for the Executive over the next four years and support of €18 billion in capital investment for the period until 2017. That package also includes €1 billion, of which €400 million comes from ourselves, to improve infrastructure and for the projects. In all the technical preparation and administration work, all our people have been advised, on a North-South basis and in the Ministerial Councils, to take the action necessary to move them forward as quickly as possible.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will recall——

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must move on to Deputy Quinn.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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May I ask a brief supplementary?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has had a good innings.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I did not get a second opportunity. It is a brief point.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are only 11 minutes left.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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All I ask is to be given the same opportunities as other speakers.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has had more than that.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will recall that one of the key outcomes of the St. Andrews talks was the commitment to ensure the language rights of Irish speakers within the Six Counties area. The Irish language Bill for the Six Counties has been blocked in the Assembly. Does the Taoiseach agree that, nevertheless, this remains an important commitment arising out of the St. Andrews engagement? In the light of the obstacles that have been placed in the path of the passage of this legislation which requires the Taoiseach raising this matter with the British Prime Minister, has he done so, will he do so and what further help can he be in ensuring that the rights of Irish speakers and those who wish to use our first language in the northern part of our island are confirmed in legislation and respected across the board?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree. Already, there has been a number of meetings on this issue and the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, has made a number of statements on it. The Government's position, which we have maintained throughout the talks process, is that parity of esteem is essential and all of these cultural, heritage and equality issues are of fundamental importance. We have never changed that position throughout the entire talks process, from the multi-party talks right through the Good Friday Agreement and since then, and we will continue to advocate that.

I spoke to the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Edwin Poots, MLA. On a number of occasions we have said that this is an issue on which we want to see progress. I note the difficulties that have arisen over the past month or six weeks, but our position remains that this is an essentially important issue and should be dealt with.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On respect for the various institutions that have grown out of the Good Friday Agreement which, in turn, grew out of the Sunningdale Agreement 23 years ago, would the Taoiseach share my view that in order for these institutions to consolidate, take root and win affection and support from all sides on this island, and, indeed, the neighbouring island, we need to respect how they function and give them time and space to breathe?

In that respect, can he reassure the House that the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Richie, MLA, did not come under pressure from Iveagh House in the run up to the decision that she courageously took? I ask this because at the SDLP conference a few weekends ago, which was attended by Deputies Crawford and Mansergh, there was a certain sense among many of the SDLP delegates that the level of support she felt she could expect was not evident and the level of pressure brought to bear upon her, through the diplomatic channels of Iveagh House and elsewhere, was less than helpful? All of us now would recognise that the principled stand that she took has, indeed, borne fruit in terms of the UDA announcement, which is welcome.

Notwithstanding the statements by the Provisional IRA and the Sinn Féin leadership in regard to the murder of my namesake, Paul Quinn, his father is reported in today's newspapers as stating that the leadership of Sinn Féin is aware of the identity of some of the perpetrators. I welcome what Deputy Ó Caoláin said in this House, but similar things were said in regard to the murder of Robert McCartney, and similar exhortations were made to the public by the leadership of Sinn Féin yet, effectively, co-operation has not been delivered on the ground. That was the tenor of the reported remarks of Paul Quinn's father in today's newspapers.

Does the Taoiseach have a view on consolidating the institutions in Northern Ireland so that the larger community there can give full support to it and does not feel in any way threatened, as it has done in the past? Likewise, if renegade former republicans who are known to their colleagues in Sinn Féin are now engaging in the kind of brutal criminality and murder we have seen, what comment does the Taoiseach have to make in order to ensure those unrepresentative and now criminal groups are exposed to the full rigour of citizen scrutiny and reports to both the Garda and the PSNI?

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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To return to the issue of Minister Margaret Ritchie and the suggestion that there was some pressure from her, I cannot account for every conversation that took place with officials, but it did create some heated debates within the Assembly. Minister Robinson responded to the effect that the decision was in breach of the ministerial code and that Minister Ritchie did not have the legal authority to carry it out. Deputy Quinn is aware the Executive met on Thursday, 18 October and there were disputes and misunderstandings about what had been agreed at the earlier Executive meeting. Minister Ritchie was supported by UUP Ministers and opposed by the others.

It has been reported Minister Ritchie came under pressure to change her stance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Whatever discussions he had with her and others, in the heat of it the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, defended and praised her. When I spoke to her I commended her for her actions. We have always taken a view on loyalists. Certainly for the past ten years we have helped them. We have even given funds to some of the organisations to help them to rehabilitate themselves and to move forward. The stance the Minister took was in line with the stance I have taken on these issues for a decade or more. That has been our position. It did create a fair bit of rumblings and difficulties within the Executive and obviously that is a matter for it.

I do not have much to add to what I previously said about Paul Quinn. We have received a number of reports from the Garda and secondhand from the PSNI, and both of them match at this stage, that this action was due to criminality. I accept issues arise about where these people came from in the past, what they did previously and the fact that the format of the killing had a resemblance to what happened in the past. That has been in every newspaper in Northern Ireland in recent weeks. Our intelligence and information is that this was not the work of the provisional republican movement and that it was not sanctioned or condoned by it or by the Sinn Féin leadership.

The Garda is making an intense effort on this matter in terms of questioning and it is going beyond what it would normally do in how it is operating on this particular event. That is known by the community in Northern Ireland as well as in southern Ireland along the Border. It is important because if these things are not resolved they continue to grow legs. I appreciate that point and that people can believe it is something else. It is in the interests of everybody that these people are brought to justice. Names have been mentioned about groups and what business and aspects of criminality they are into, but quite frankly I can only work on the basis of the information I have, all of which is in the public domain. The Garda is aware of that information and what others have said in other legislatures and it is doing its best to bring this case to a successful prosecution.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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A number of Deputies are offering but, unfortunately, the time has expired and I have to move on. My apologies to all of them.