Seanad debates

Tuesday, 9 December 2003

Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

10:45 am

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank Senators for their willingness to take this legislation today. Seanad Éireann has always supported the Government's attempts to bring peace and political stability to Northern Ireland.

The purpose of the Bill is to provide in our law for the establishment of the Independent Monitoring Commission which has been the subject of an Agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It may be helpful if I set out in some detail the background to the establishment of the commission.

Members of this House who follow developments in Northern Ireland very closely will undoubtedly be aware of the broad background to the creation of the Independent Monitoring Commission, but I will revisit some of the main points in that genesis to show where the IMC fits into the overall pattern of political progress in Northern Ireland.

The early months of this year saw a great deal of political engagement between the two Governments and the pro-Agreement parties in Northern Ireland. Our intensive engagement continued through the months that followed and following much painstaking effort and a slow grind, a full and complete audit of all areas of the Good Friday Agreement which remained to be fully implemented was developed. This engagement included a set of talks over two days at Hillsborough, involving the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, as well as the parties and a range of Ministers, myself included.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.