Seanad debates

Tuesday, 9 December 2003

Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

On Article 4, I spoke to several of the recently elected DUP representatives. It is interesting that it is now possible to discuss issues such as a united Ireland with people who would be perceived to be on the extreme wing of loyalist and Unionist opinion. While they may not be about to change their opinion on this issue, the mere fact that it can be discussed is notable. One of them told me he had been less than diligent in criticising paramilitary violence on the loyalist side. This violence needs to be acknowledged by Unionist politicians. There has been one-way criticism of the IRA and republican paramilitaries, perhaps with justification, but it is necessary for credibility and balance to point out that much of what happens on the loyalist paramilitary side is a major deterrent to the normalisation of society in the North.

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