Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The Minister's speech was excellent. It was also good to hear from Senator Maurice Hayes because, as I said in my contribution on the reform of this House, it would be better if there were more Northern Ireland voices in the Seanad. Consideration should be given to the leader of the SDLP's request for the recall of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.

Nobody familiar with the Northern Ireland situation could have supposed that after the Good Friday Agreement the path of peace would run smooth. However, even if it has been far from smooth and if many aspects of the process, including the current situation, are anything but satisfactory, it is still a vast improvement on the endless coffins, shattered lives and the broken limbs of the 30 year conflict. Too much sententious moralising can contribute to intransigence and conflict. If the price of less death is forgoing the indulgence of self-righteous political sermons, I am content with the bargain.

Irish democracy is robust, strong and deeply rooted and any group that tries to challenge it will lose. In my experience, and some questions have been raised in this regard outside the House, the senior public servants and the political leaders who have had to grapple with the problems of peace are deeply conscious of their democratic responsibilities. The Irish people have not been let down or betrayed. The Taoiseach, working in partnership with others and building on the achievements of his predecessors, has given magnificent and steady leadership. I also appreciate the steady cross-party support there has been over a long number of years.

It is no use, when standing over a team trying to defuse an explosive device, telling them to hurry up or abandon the job. Sometimes people's demands are too peremptory. We must separate three things – the peace process, the Agreement and the institutions. Only some of the institutions are temporarily down and perhaps the peace process needs a breather. The dual track has run out of road. Mr. Tony Blair was right to point out that it has become more of a liability than an advantage. People will have to reflect carefully on that.