Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I am very pleased to have this opportunity to address Seanad Éireann following some very significant developments in the peace process. On 28 July, when the IRA announced an end to its armed campaign, I said that its words must be borne out by actions and on 26 September, we saw verified actions when General John de Chastelain announced the completion of IRA decommissioning. Finally, the IRA has yielded to the will of the people, as expressed in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement. It has given up its weapons to pursue its aims by exclusively peaceful means. In doing so, it has also accepted the unequivocal demand of the Oireachtas, on behalf of the people, that violence be brought to a permanent end.

The future of Ireland can now be determined by elected representatives, working for all of the people in a purely peaceful and democratic way. I have worked for this outcome for the past seven years, to fulfil the mandate the people gave me in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement. This was a mandate to secure a permanent peace on this island and to help build a new future and new friendships among everyone on the island and between Ireland and Britain. In spite of the many setbacks and disappointments, I have continued to pursue that goal because, as a constitutional republican, I was convinced that it was the only way to achieve a lasting settlement of the Northern conflict. I was joined in this endeavour by many people and I express my gratitude to everybody who played a part in getting to this point. There are many people of all parties and none, of all creeds and classes, who have worked for peace, not least distinguished Members of this House, past and present.

I would like to thank in particular Senator Martin Mansergh, whose contribution to the peace process over the years has been invaluable and highly influential. I would also like to mention Senator Maurice Hayes who has worked for many decades in public service, North and South. It is also appropriate to recall today that a Member of this House, Senator Billy Fox, lost his life during the Troubles. We remember him, and all the other victims and survivors, at this time.

We have not yet completed our task but we can be happy that we have come further than many people ever thought possible. It is my earnest hope and strong belief that next year will see the return of the Northern Executive and Assembly and the North-South Ministerial Council. They are an essential part of the democratic framework in these islands and represent the best and only hope of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous future.

In a context where progress is being made and trust and confidence are being restored, there is also an opportunity to address the issue of Oireachtas participation by Northern representatives. As I stated in the Dáil, what I will propose will be sensible but modest. It will be faithful to the recommendations of the all-party report. There is no question of granting Northern Ireland MPs speaking rights in the Dáil. Nor will our proposals cut across the architecture of the Good Friday Agreement but they can complement the North-South parliamentary forum under the Agreement, which we hope to see established soon. The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body is already in existence and thriving. There is also a distinguished history of Northern appointees to this House to build on. This is ultimately a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas and I will make proposals directly to all of the other party leaders shortly.

The Government will also, towards the end of this year, bring forward proposals for dealing with the question of so-called on-the-runs in the context of a verified end to all IRA paramilitary and criminal activity. I reiterate that there will no concessions in respect of anybody involved in the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

I have described the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning report of last week as a landmark development. The report of the IICD confirmed that the weapons of the IRA are gone and that they have been disposed of in a manner that has been witnessed and verified. The report states that the IRA has now placed the totality of its arsenal beyond use. I accept and welcome that assessment.

Last week, I met General John de Chastelain and his team and thanked them for the work they have done. I am sure Senators join me in that and also in thanking the independent witnesses. Fr. Alec Reid and Reverend Harold Good have done the people of this island a great service. It adds to their work for peace over many years. The task they undertook to witness IRA decommissioning required not only integrity, but also personal courage. They told of how they watched the entire process, minute by minute. They said that beyond any shadow of doubt, the arms of the IRA have now been decommissioned. Their statement was compelling and it was clear. All who heard it knew that they were hearing the truth.

The IICD has now reported on four separate acts of decommissioning. The most recent, final report was of a programme, over several days, from dawn to dusk. The general spoke of very large quantities of weapons and made clear that the amounts involved were consistent with the inventory prepared by the security forces. Very detailed inventories were made and these will be published when all decommissioning, including of loyalist weapons, has been completed. I accept the general's view that an amount of confidentiality was necessary in order to ensure that decommissioning happened. His approach has been vindicated by events. IRA decommissioning has now been removed as an obstacle to progress. That is my view and the view of the two Governments. It is important to be clear on this and to move on. Ultimately, if decommissioning is to have any meaning, it has to be an accomplished fact on the ground. The people will know if it is real or not.

There is another equally important dimension to our demands of the IRA, that is, that it ceases all paramilitary and criminal activities. We need to be convinced that all IRA paramilitary and criminal activity has come to an end. The next report of the Independent Monitoring Commission will be published this month and will give an indication of progress on this issue. There will be a further IMC report in January.

There are, of course, other challenges to be faced. These were set out by Tony Blair and myself in July. They include the restoration of the political institutions, the ending of loyalist paramilitary and criminal activity and the resolution of policing issues. Having seen the completion of decommissioning, and if there are positive reports from the Independent Monitoring Commission, I believe the way will be open to a full resumption of dialogue on the restoration of the political institutions. I call on all concerned to use the period ahead to reflect on the progress already made and to prepare for the next steps back towards democratic, devolved government in the North. That is the only way we will ever begin to get reconciliation between the two communities. It is also the only way that the real problems that affect people, in health, education, the economy and social exclusion, can begin to be addressed. There is no substitute for democratically elected local representatives dealing with these issues.

Events of recent weeks and, indeed, of recent days have shown that the problem of loyalist criminal and paramilitary activity remains acute. We need to see an end to criminality that, far from helping or protecting communities, only adds to their suffering. We need to see the removal of loyalist weapons from the equation. It is these weapons that pose a present danger to the community. They have been used in recent weeks and months for murder, attempted murder, crime and racketeering. The use of guns and explosives against the police force during the recent riots was truly shocking. It was absolutely unjustified and it cannot and will not be rewarded.

We need to consolidate the progress on policing. The role of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is central to a future free of paramilitary threat. In my view, the absence of full cross-community support for the police service is a dangerous threat to the hard won peace that we all enjoy. The PSNI has grown in stature as the Patten reforms have been rolled out. As I said recently in the Dáil, the bravery and impartiality displayed during the recent riots was outstanding.

The Government stands four-square behind the Patten reforms. There will be no turning back from the new beginning in policing. That is why the Government continues to call on all parties to give their support to policing in Northern Ireland. In particular, we have made clear to Sinn Féin that it must deal with this issue. This is not just for the common good, but also for the good of the communities and the people it represents. Democracy and the rule of law are fundamental to a resolution of all of the issues that lie before us.

Clearly, despite all the progress we have made, a significant challenge now lies in rebuilding the trust and confidence of the Unionist community. I understand that. The events of recent months, in terms of how the Governments would respond to an end to the IRA's activities, had been signalled in advance in various public documents, including the Joint Declaration of 2003. Events such as decommissioning and security normalisation are very welcome. It is unfortunate that, because of the delay in getting to this point, an incorrect perception has been created of a one-way stream of concessions. The Good Friday Agreement is a very balanced document. The peace process is conducted in an even-handed way. The outcomes have already been significant and positive for everyone on these islands. Peace, increased prosperity, equality and reform benefit everybody.

The Good Friday Agreement also established the principle of consent and removed the South's territorial claim on the North. It has helped bring an end to the IRA's armed campaign and the decommissioning of IRA weapons. The Agreement provides the basis for democratic government and a prosperous shared future for everybody.

Regarding decommissioning, people will need time to reflect. I welcome the positive stance taken by some Unionist leaders and leading representatives of the Protestant churches, including Archbishop Robin Eames and the Presbyterian Moderator Dr. Harry Uprichard, following the IICD announcement. Everyone is entitled to form their own opinion. It is not just a question of expecting Unionists to do what others want in time. They must be persuaded and convinced they can trust those who seek their trust. This is not a veto on progress but it is a reality that we must all recognise and address. I believe that trust and confidence can be rebuilt and the Government will do its utmost to assist that process.

The task before us all now is to build a better future and Ireland. This must be an Ireland that is a warm home for everybody who lives here and a cold house for no one. Everyone must feel secure and respected. Above all, the task ahead is, therefore, one of reconciliation. We must achieve a wholehearted and genuine reconciliation with the Unionist people. They have a right to live in peace on this island. Their culture, identity and aspirations must be respected. We also have a right to our aspirations, which can be advanced using only peaceful and democratic means. We must have a deeper dialogue with those who do not share these aspirations. We cannot just talk past them about what we want. If we are to talk of unity, let us talk of uniting people and not just territory.

A shared future will not come easily. Apart from making political progress, we must make progress in the hearts and minds of all the people. We must confront sectarianism and hatred wherever we see them on all sides. We must build more friendships between North and South, Catholic and Protestant, Britain and Ireland. We have achieved far more than people sometimes realise. Relations between Britain and Ireland have never been better. There are growing links between North and South and there is huge potential for developing an all-island economy, building infrastructure and providing better services. We are working hard to tap all of this potential.

Many people have suffered at the hands of these weapons that have now thankfully been removed from our lives. This suffering should never have happened. Decommissioning of weapons does not heal the pain and loss. We will not forget our sad and tragic past. We cannot undo the damage done but we can ensure that no future generations will suffer this pain and loss. The Government will uphold the Good Friday Agreement and the principle of equality. We will play our part in building peace, prosperity and reconciliation. There is no going back to the bad old days. We are building a better future, a shared future.