Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Power Sharing Agreement in Northern Ireland: Motion

 

7:00 pm

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I endorse everything that has been said about the extraordinary contribution made by all participants in reaching this agreement. I remember a particular soundbite that emerged in the news coverage, namely, that the Taoiseach, when he had travelled to the North and had to stay over, had not even carried a toothbrush. Whether that is true, it epitomises the total commitment of the Irish and British Governments. I applaud the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michéal Martin, who stayed with the process throughout in co-operation with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Shaun Woodward. The tributes paid to the Taoiseach, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, the DUP, Sinn Féin and the other political parties in the North, the UUP, SDLP and the Alliance Party, are well merited.

As did Senator Doherty in his fine contribution, I compliment the Leader on ensuring Sinn Féin's voice was heard in this debate. However, I want to put it on record that a core principle of Fianna Fáil, from its beginning in 1926, was, is and remains the reunification of this country. Speaking as a Fianna Fáil Senator - I know I speak for all of my colleagues - I say to Senator Doherty that we are not at all afraid of unity. I assumed that what was happening in Hillsborough was part of the building blocks towards unity, on a peaceful basis and with the co-operation and consent of both sides. It is evident from all that has been happening since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 that we are moving to some form of a new - to paraphrase his party leader - dispensation on this island. That is to be welcomed and is quite extraordinary when one thinks of all that has been achieved since 1998. Some 72% of the voters of Northern Ireland voted in favour of the Agreement.

The Good Friday Agreement also produced various bodies that are now in operation, such as the North-South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council and the North-South implementation bodies. One of these in particular, with which the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, who is here, will be familiar because it comes under his brief, Waterways Ireland is based in Enniskillen. It does significant positive work, not only in the context of maintaining our waterways, but of selling the island of Ireland abroad and the wonderful beauty and majesty of our lakes and waterways. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív was the first Minister to commit himself publicly to the development and reopening of the Ulster Canal, which will link the entire island of Ireland through its waterways. I have no doubt that work will continue into the future and will be a wonderful achievement for the whole island.

I am very pleased that Senator Doherty devoted much of his contribution to the fringe violence going on. It is not the challenges that have been agreed on at Hillsborough that the Northern Ireland Executive or the Irish and British Governments must face, but the incipient, consistent continuous sniping by a small but very effective minority of people who believe the only way forward is by the barrel of a gun. Senator Doherty referred to Gerry Kelly. It is significant that Gerry Kelly comes from a background that supported militant republicanism, but is now firmly embedded in the parliamentary and democratic system in Northern Ireland, such as it may be. He has stated there is "no support for, or appetite for, armed actions within the republican community". That is a significant contribution.

What Senator Doherty said about the challenges that will face the Northern Ireland Executive, and by extension the Government here, if the violence continues is important. Let me give an example. We have all welcomed the INLA laying down its arms and its decommissioning process now confirmed by General de Chastelain. It might be worthwhile to recall for the record of the House what the INLA did in its 35 years of militancy. One of the most significant actions it took was that it blew Airey Neave to smithereens, just after he had been appointed Northern Ireland spokesperson in the first Margaret Thatcher Administration. I do not wish to dilute the 3,500 awful, tragic deaths as a result of violence in the North, but I firmly believe that in narrow political terms that particular action by the INLA poisoned Margaret Thatcher towards anything Irish, from 1979 onwards. I believe it strongly influenced and prejudiced her and her first Administration against realistic movement towards trying to solve the issues not only North-South, but east-west. That is just one of the legacies of the INLA.

We cannot forget either that the most significant massacre that took place in Northern Ireland was that at the Dropping Well pub, where 17 innocent people were blown to bits in 1982 by the INLA. The INLA was the most vicious group of militant republicanism that operated on this island. Thank God it has now seen the light and laid down its arms. It is important that, as Senator Doherty has said, it continues to be said in this House and in the Northern Ireland Executive that there is no room whatsoever for these people who - I will not say what they call themselves - are nothing but thugs and murderers. What happened to Peadar Heffron is an example of the sort of depths to which such groups will sink.

These are the challenges facing the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I would like to finish on a positive note. I endorse everything that has been said about Mark Durkan and wish him well in the continuing contribution he will make to Northern Ireland politics. I also welcome Margaret Ritchie, the first female leader of a major party in Northern Ireland. I pay tribute to the pioneers, Monica McWilliams, Pearl Sagar and Jane Morris who in 1996 formed the Women's Coalition and who had to struggle through the prejudice and male bastion of politics in Northern Ireland at that time. How far we have come. I pay tribute too to Mo Mowlam. In the very week that the Northern Ireland agreement was being hammered out in Hillsborough, Channel 4 transmitted the most extraordinary film, "Mo". I urge RTE to purchase this film and broadcast it on national television. Perhaps the Minister present, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, might play some role in that. That film brings home the tremendous commitment, energy and determination this unique woman had and the contribution she made to what we are discussing today. Lord rest her soul.

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