Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. I also welcome the rapidity with which he agreed to come. All parties in the House were firm in their resolve that he should come here to discuss Northern Ireland and bring us up to date. As Leader of the House I am pleased to contribute to this debate and to listen to the points of view of other Senators. Members of this House have always reflected a wide range of views and contributed enormously to our understanding of Northern Ireland issues, a point made very tellingly by Senator Ross last Friday, when he said that the contribution of Northern voices here helped to add to the texture of debate in the House.

The Government's comprehensive proposals for agreement and blueprint for progress published last week represent a remarkable achievement. When the Taoiseach made his contribution, we could see the steps that have been taken in the past 12 months, their acceleration and where each step has led, to the point where the prize was in our grasp. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes in saying that the attainment and consolidation of peace is the biggest prize we as a Parliament could get.

I pay tribute to the work of the Taoiseach and Taoisigh down the years, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and his predecessors, including the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, in difficult and complex negotiations that culminated in the publication of the Government's proposals. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes's outline of the steps that led to this point. We did not reach this stage because somebody woke up one day and suggested having a review and an independent monitoring commission. All along the road flag-posts had to be passed, culminating in this.

The full acceptance and implementation of this landmark package would be a huge step forward towards putting the conflict of the past behind us and building a better future for everyone on the island. I urge all parties and all communities to persevere in fully securing the potential. The Government's comprehensive package has the capacity to resolve the key outstanding issues, which the two Governments identified at Lancaster House in June. The Taoiseach stated that some positive proposals had been made in the other House. While this may be a small one, I want to make this proposal regarding having a clergyman from each of the two denominations present with the military personnel to vouch for the decommissioning. Verification seems to lie at the heart of the present impasse. Placing greater emphasis on the presence of two clergymen and their capacity to contribute could be very fruitful. While they have been mentioned, this point has always been glossed over.

The completion of the process of arms decommissioning addresses the definitive ending of paramilitary activity. It ensures the stability of the institutions and of dealing with issues of policing and justice. While it has been a long and difficult road, it is clear that all sides have travelled a great distance towards achieving an agreement that addresses the key issues that have bedevilled the process since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. It will all lead to a better society for everyone.

I agree with the Taoiseach that some people believe things are going fine in the North. There seems to be peace, business is good and people are going about their communities. As Senator Ó Murchú said here last week, a vacuum is dangerous and a vacuum in place of a democratic institution can be extremely dangerous. A democratic institution allows those of different persuasions to manage the affairs of their communities. Throughout our lives all of us in democratic politics have striven to allow people to govern themselves. When the Northern Ireland devolved institutions were operating there were several area, particularly agriculture, where a firm hand on the leadership tiller facilitated bringing a community along a very difficult road.

We all seek the restoration of the institutions because a vacuum is very dangerous. We seek a society free from sectarian harassment, where the people can give their full allegiance to the police service, where normal security arrangements apply and where people no longer need fear the scourge of paramilitarism. Under these arrangements the IRA has made a commitment to achieve a totally peaceful society and has committed itself to putting all arms completely and verifiably beyond use.

The DUP has made a commitment to participate in all the arrangements provided for in the Agreement and to work in an inclusive way in constructive partnership with all the parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly for the benefit of the whole community. The DUP also commits itself to meet its obligations in each of the strands of the Agreement, including the North-South bodies, which represents a massive step forward for that party. From the days of saying "No" to everything it is now committed to working the North-South bodies, which, when operational, worked very favourably for the whole island.

Like the Taoiseach in Belfast last Wednesday, I would like refer to something said by the then chairperson of the international body on decommissioning, Senator George Mitchell. When Fianna Fáil was in Opposition from 1994 to mid-1997, we met Senator Mitchell on many occasions. He said that decommissioning should not require that any party be seen to surrender, on which I believe agreement exists across the board.

As we are in this Chamber, which has been the subject of Seanad reform, I wish to stress that we did not present the report to the Taoiseach two years ago, but in April 2004, as the other parties involved in Seanad reform know. In the early 1980s I was a Member of this House for two short terms when Séamus Mallon and Bríd Rodgers were Senators. Now we enjoy the company and contributions of Senator Maurice Hayes, whom the Taoiseach appointed. They offer a different point of view, bringing us a sense of what it is like to live in another part of this island. They bring a civic contribution to the affairs of the nation. Formalising that would be an excellent step.

I attempt to soften my tone, as we should be prudent in our language. It is not a matter of cherry-picking. We are talking about the North, which is why I have highlighted that issue. If we were discussing university Senators I would mention the pending legislation to give all third-level institutions a voice. Most Senators who spoke had grievances about aspects of Seanad reform. However, on the matter of Northern representation all were ad idem and wished to see it happen. They were pleased by the Northern voices, not in any way in a sense of patronage but in a sense of appreciation that ultimately we are all from one island and their voices are valuable to us. I again thank the Taoiseach for coming to the House.