Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well with the Bill which is very short. It was referred to by the distinguished Senator Maurice Hayes on the Order of Business when I think he described it as being opaque, but perhaps he was referring to the explanatory memorandum in that regard. Everyone knows what it involves. I listened to his contribution on the monitor and noted his reference to bringing horses to water. I believe he meant to say they should be allowed to drink of their own accord. His words prompted me to come to the Chamber.

Everyone knows about the divisions. Last week I attended a meeting of a sub-committee of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body in London and had the honour to be in the House of Commons for the initiation of the debate there. I heard the contributions of Mark Durkan and Dr. Paisley. I am amazed by the advances made in such a short period. I thought everything Mr. Durkan said was eminently sensible but Dr. Paisley struck me as being reticent. He made a big point of where he stood and the obstacles in his way. However, RTE aired an interview with him on the night before last in which he more than clarified that he was prepared to take up office as First Minister. We greatly welcome that development.

I hope Sinn Féin will proceed with its Ard-Fheis because it must move on policing. It is a basic tenet of any democratic society that there can be only one police force which must have the support of all democratic parties. I hope there will not be an obstacle in that regard in Northern Ireland. As Senator Maurice Hayes stated, the transfer of the policing function to the North was envisaged in the Patten report.

If I am correct, I understand the Bill provides for the further advancement of North-South and east-west bodies.