Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I dtosach is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire anseo agus tréaslú leis de bharr na hoibre atá déanta aige. Ar ndóigh thug sé gliondar croí dúinn gur éirigh chomh maith sin leis nuair a bhí na comhráite ar siúl sa Tuaisceart, agus buíochas mór le Dia go bhfuil an dul chun cinn sin déanta.

I compliment the Minister and the Taoiseach on the role they played in the recent negotiations. This was a prime example of democratic dialogue in action and we could not have imagined that happening some years ago. We should also compliment the British Prime Minister on the role he played and the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and all the parties involved because, ultimately, we are still on a road to a conclusion and one shudders to think what might have happened had the talks not succeeded.

While many people had given up at different stages of the negotiations, it was quite evident that the Minister, the Taoiseach and everyone directly involved were in for the long haul. We are dealing here with very complex issues. There are the historical, imaginary and symbolic issues to be considered, each one of which is important in its own right. It is interesting that we are succeeding less in compromising than coalescing in the different strands of the complex issues with which we are dealing. Again, I believe this should not be underestimated. I was particularly interested to learn today that Sammy Wilson, for instance, had a meeting with the Minister for Finance. They were discussing issues of mutual concern. I am sure there are so many of those types of arrangements that never come to the fore. We have seen before when issues arose in Europe that both jurisdictions were prepared to work together for the good of all the island. There is no better example of such progress than Tourism Ireland. The fact that it is marketing the whole island sends out a message that I believe is very important, especially outside Ireland.

We all remember the bad old days when Bord Fáilte was endeavouring to promote Ireland. It would have been doing a fantastic job, and then some incident would occur which meant that straight away all the work was wiped out. As a result the whole island suffered. It is interesting, then, that Tourism Ireland is working so well. We had its representatives before an Oireachtas committee last week where we discussed with them the opportunities and difficulties they envisage for the future. Interestingly, it was no longer issues in Northern Ireland that were foreseen as problem areas but rather world recession and its impact on both parts of the island. It was seen to be in our joint interest to work together and one felt that it was good that Tourism Ireland had been set up when it was.

As I was watching the debate on the monitor, I saw that a number of speakers addressed the symbolic issues. In fact, Senator Donie Cassidy mentioned them as well. I am referring specifically to the issue of culture. Very often there is a misunderstanding here. I have had a number of experiences in recent times which were particularly edifying. Some year ago, during the peace process I invited David Irvine to some discussions and we assembled a group of 200 people. We had Tim Pat Coogan as a speaker and the discussions were chaired by the then Senator Martin Mansergh. The type of people who turned up were not the usual audience one might expect. They came from industrial and cultural backgrounds in the main. One thing we discovered was how much we had in common. Very often the heritage, which is so old, is much more unifying than the political divisions. We brought along the Hounds of Ulster, a new group that had come on the scene and which was involved in building bridges between both traditions. We also asked President Mary McAleese to attend. What was happening on stage was less interesting than the great session that took place afterwards in the bar where all those interests worked together.

Two years ago I was contacted by Orange Order representatives in the North who wanted to come here to discuss with me how we might work more closely together because they said their traditions were weakening. A delegation came here to the Oireachtas and I brought them to the headquarters of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and chatted there with them on the common ground that existed. One of the best examples of progress I can give derives from the fact that I had letters, in another context, from the five political parties in Northern Ireland, from Sinn Féin to the DUP, asking that we bring Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann north of the Border. If anybody had suggested 20 years ago that there could be any question of that happening, one would never have believed it. It was especially significant that each of the political parties was willing to welcome such an event in celebration of the diverse traditions and cultures. In effect, it would mean that some 250,000 people or thereabouts would gather together for nine days. One thing that is certain, wherever there is music and common cause, there is seldom division. The division may exist in the background, but it is not central to the activity itself.

The reason I mention all those events is that I believe this is the best thing we can do to advance progress along the lines I have indicated. Ultimately, it is the small initiatives that are put in place over time that will be seen to be important rather than big developments. Sometimes the less said about it, the better because there will be an organic development arising from that. Later on we can wonder where we came from because events will have occurred and we shall have seen that common cause.

I have always regretted that the parades issue arose in the manner in which it did. Part of the problem might have been the way that parades had been perceived and presented in the past. If one sees a parade in the context of a celebration, festivity and so on, it will not cause the same ripple effect. My understanding from speaking to people in the North is that this is the way they want to see 12 July celebrated in future years. I would like to believe, therefore, that where the local people make the decisions, based on the great progress made under other particular headings, we shall see the parades able to continue in the future without giving offence to anyone.

I very much agree with the point made by Senator Cummins about all political parties sharing in what has happened. We can all agree that had we not had a bipartisan policy on Northern Ireland down through the years, we would be having a different type of debate. The fact there was a unifying but non-threatening voice coming from here seeing itself as a facilitator was important. My great hope is that some day we will work together in a single structure on this island. I have not used the term "united Ireland" because terminology can often send out the wrong message. Bearing in mind all the areas in which we co-operate, I see no reason our Unionist friends and leaders should feel threatened in the future once we respect each other's traditions.

I hope some time in the future we can look on expanding the areas of co-operation. I always admired the Reverend Ian Paisley for the particular reason that one always knew what was on his mind and he spoke about it openly. In the future we should do likewise and endeavour to continue on the road to a final conclusion. What has happened in recent weeks has not harmed us but done us good. It has enabled us to reflect on what we have achieved, where we are and what we might achieve in the future.