Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad of the opportunity to contribute to the debate as, owing to my background, I have always been interested in the affairs of Northern Ireland throughout the years. Today is an opportunity to congratulate the Taoiseach on the political time he has put into attaining this result. There is no doubt that were it not for his leadership and persuasive skills we would not be debating this issue today.

I acknowledge also the work of my colleagues Senator Mansergh and Senator Maurice Hayes and many public servants behind the scenes and all the parties who got involved in reaching the Good Friday Agreement and moving it forward. Following a stop-start process during the past seven years the decommissioning of weapons was an historic day for all of us. The way forward from here on is through the ballot box.

The future, the political side, has to be looked at in other ways. How do we move forward? In his contribution the Taoiseach referred to that issue in terms of how we reconcile all parties in the North and bring about confidence and trust. Those are key words that one must not lose. If that confidence and trust is not restored in the minds and hearts of the people in the North of Ireland we cannot move forward. All political leaders, North and South, have a huge role to play in bridging tho gaps and creating the friendships, North and South. It has to be done through an all-Ireland economy, through Departments and Ministers working with the reformed institutions in the North of Ireland. If it is not approached in that way we cannot go any further.

I have listened carefully to the comments on suspects, criminality and the sectarianism. We acknowledge it still exists but we must move forward. However, if we do not have confidence and trust in the man in the street and in the communities North and South we cannot move forward. All of us have a role to play. We must not look back but try to bring everybody forward. We must convince the leaders, particularly those on the Unionist side, that this is a role for all of us. This is an historic day. We can move forward and ensure there is no more sectarian violence and that we will co-operate with the PSNI. There is a message for all of us that we want to proceed through peaceful means and we have arrived at that stage. Let us move forward from there.