Seanad debates

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus tréaslaím leis as ucht an dea-obair a rinne sé, go háirithe i gcás saorú na hoibrithe deonacha le Goal le déanaí. Táimid uilig ag iarraidh agus ag súil go mbeidh toradh chomh dearfach le fáil i gcás an Athair Sinnott.

Tá áthas orm faoin méid adúirt an Aire maidir leis an Ghaeilge. Aontaím go huile agus go hiomlán leis chomh fada agus a bhaineann sé le obair Fhoras na Gaeilge. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go n-amharcfar ar an Ghaeilge mar oidhreacht gach duine sa tír, idir Caitliceach agus Protastúnach, Náisiúnaithe agus Aondachtóirí agus is cóir don Rialtas aon rud ar féidir leis a dhéanamh chun sin a chur chun cinn. Is cuimhin liom nuair a bhí mé san ollscoil agus i ndiaidh sin gur minic a raibh daoine diúltach faoin Ghaeilge mar go ndearna siad nasc intleachtúil idir an Ghaeilge agus cúrsaí poblachtánachais agus míleata. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go ndéanann muid uilig ár seacht ndícheall chun a cinntiú go n-amharcfar ar an Ghaeilge mar acmhainn chultúrtha, shaibhir ar leí an tír ar fad í, ó Thuaidh agus ó Dheas.

Aontaím chomh maith leis an méid adúirt mo chomhleacaí an Seanadóir Quinn faoi siopadóireacht sa Tuaisceart. I am often very surprised at the implication that the practice of going shopping in the North in response to the economic crisis is somehow less than patriotic. We need to view our economic well-being on an all-Ireland basis. I did not have time to check this because it was Senator Quinn's comments that prompted the reflection, but I seem to remember rather unfortunate comments being made by some who would have regarded themselves as Nationalists about Austin Curry when he was a candidate for the Presidency of Ireland, that he should go back to where he had come from. This reflected the contradictions in the minds of some when they have not fully thought through a positive nationalism for themselves.

I welcome the Minister's statement that he is looking forward in the coming weeks to the British Government's consultation paper on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. Does he consider the British Government is stalling on the issue? Does he believe there will be progress? The public consultation document will bring the United Kingdom closer to fulfilling its commitments to introduce legislation under the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement. Is the Minister concerned about this process, given that no legislation is scheduled to be introduced at Westminster prior to the dissolution of Parliament?

Is the Minister concerned about the process of creating a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland if there is change of Government in the United Kingdom? It is known that the Conservative Party supports a UK Bill of Rights, whereas the Labour Party supports a distinct Bill for Northern Ireland. Given that 83% of people in Northern Ireland believe it is important that Northern Ireland has its own Bill of rRghts and that the Human Rights Act 1998 is operative in Northern Ireland, it is important that there be a Bill of Rights particular to Northern Ireland. That is the type of Bill that should be promulgated considering the recent traumatic history of our neighbours.

The caveat I insert is that any proposed Bill should remain faithful to the important international rights instruments comprising the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. However, it is important to have a localisation of international human rights precisely because it is such an important part of normalising political and cultural discourse in Northern Ireland and because of the normative influence such a Bill of Rights would have in championing authentic cultural and human rights. I state this because I am quite conscious that sometimes the concepts of rights and human rights are abused and that one ends up with people taking liberties with authentic human rights in the name of human rights.

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