Mr. Hume, MEP:

I thank all Senators and I was honoured to be here today. However, I will make two points in response to the points raised. First, the people of Ireland as a whole have spoken as to how they wish to live together. We do not use that enough in terms of implementing the Agreement because it is the duty of all true democrats to implement the will of the people. However, it is also a strong argument to the paramilitary tradition. It was the historian in me that began the dialogue. I knew the reasons behind paramilitarism historically and my effort was to show that, whatever about the past, they do not exist today and the Downing Street Declaration made that clear.

Mr. Hume, MEP:

Paramilitarists on the Nationalist side always claim to be acting in the name of the Irish people because the last time the people of Ireland spoke was in 1918. They can no longer make that claim. Therefore, the fundamental reason for paramilitarism no longer exists. It is the duty of all true Irish people to implement the will of the Irish people.

Mr. Hume, MEP:

On the other side there is the principle of consent. It has been the central principle of unionism throughout its existence that there can be no change in the situation in Northern Ireland without the consent of the majority. The whole of Nationalist Ireland now accepts the principle of consent. It was reinforced in the joint referendum that the Agreement could be put into place only with the consent of the people of the Republic and of the North. Therefore, Unionists should be told clearly that if they overthrow the Agreement they will be overthrowing the principle of consent because they will be overthrowing something for which a huge majority of the people of Northern Ireland voted. If the principle of consent is overthrown, how is the problem to be resolved in the future, other than by the two Governments working together to come up with an answer? The need to preserve the principle of consent would be a strong argument to put to unionism.

Mr. Hume, MEP:

In spite of our present difficulties, the atmosphere on our streets has been transformed. Our streets are very different from ten years ago because of the total absence of tension and of troops. It is our duty to do all in our power to implement the will of the people.

Mr. Hume, MEP:

I thank Senators very much for their kindness to me today. I am honoured to have been asked to come here and I hope what I said made sense.