Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Unfortunately, due to the accident on the M7-M9, I was not present for the Order of Business. I wish to make a few remarks about the general context into which this legislation falls, given that it deals with one of the bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. Notwithstanding the fact that it was long overdue, there must be great satisfaction at yesterday's agreement. At last, there is an inclusivity which means that all major elements in Northern Ireland will now work together.

It vindicates the long and difficult steps that took place previously. On the assumption that the Executive becomes operational on 8 May as promised, this will represent a successful conclusion of the peace process, although not, of course, the end of history. It does not wipe out the pain, grief and suffering of the past 30 years but, taken as a whole, it represents a balanced and comprehensive resolution of many of the principal difficulties. Practically nobody will wish to return to the way things were. It is an enormous tribute to the partnership and co-operation of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. It appears that their historic ten year partnership, which is now drawing to a close, will be crowned with success, subject to what happens on 8 May. That is not to take away from the important advances that were also made in the era of Mr. Albert Reynolds and Mr. John Major.

What has been achieved has an international resonance. Many groups, such as in Sri Lanka, the Basque country and in the occupied territories, will look at it to see what lessons can be learnt from it. Of course, one should not assume that lessons are necessarily easily transferable from one situation to another, given that every situation has its own specifics which make a simplistic transfer difficult. Nonetheless, they will learn what they can from it. It will also be held up internationally as an example of how difficult and seemingly intractable situations can make progress, refuting the pessimism attributed to a former British Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, who is reputed to have said, apropos of Ireland, that to some problems there is simply no solution.

The Foyle Fisheries Commission was one of the earliest modest forms of North-South co-operation, re-established after a void of practically 30 years. That was not the original intention. In the early 1920s it was intended that substantial all-Ireland co-operation would continue. In fact, it did not, and there were no structures for it. It was not until the late 1940s and early 1950s that modest, almost minimalist, steps were put in place. This was an almost unique example and Senator Maurice Hayes mentioned the other two. However, it showed, even to the most sceptical, that it could be done.

During the 1970s and 1980s Carlingford Lough was the scene of small scale, gunboat diplomacy. There was a British gunboat almost permanently stationed on the northern side of the lough. Matters were not helped by the fact that the line of the Border was not quite agreed. I recall the then Taoiseach, Mr. Charles Haughey, sending an Irish naval vessel to Carlingford Lough in 1982 to keep our end up, as it were. Of course, there were sailors, thoroughly bona fide as far as I know, who complained that their vessels were being boarded by not very polite naval crews. However, in Carlingford Lough, as elsewhere, we are now sailing into calmer waters.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has a particular interest in Carlingford. I believe he has a home on Carlingford Lough, in addition to his home in Blackrock in Dundalk. For a long time he has held an ambition, which I thoroughly support, to have a bridge constructed across Carlingford Lough to join Carlingford and Rostrevor. The President, having lived in Rostrevor, would probably have an interest in that as well. This is obviously a matter on which there should be co-operation. I do not believe it will be particularly controversial except at a technical level. Fishermen always jibe at regulation and it does not take much for them to find the authorities oppressive in this manner. This is one of the bodies where there is co-operation and I have every hope that in due course the type of co-operation outlined in the Bill will be extended to other areas.