Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday the Reverend Ian Paisley sat in the House of Commons for the last time. In many ways Reverend Paisley represents the metamorphosis which took place in political life in the North of Ireland. In many ways his contribution was essential to the final outcome of the peace process. In a gracious manner, when he spoke in the House of Commons yesterday, he stated that he hoped that we would never return to the bad old days.

It was sad that on exactly the same day the Orange Order in the United Kingdom called for protests against the visit of his Holiness, the Pope, to Britain. One representative of the Orange Order in the North of Ireland has stated that it will protest against any suggestion that he might visit Northern Ireland. I would see this as a return to the bad old days.

There is an echo in this of the time that the Orange Order came to Dublin and we all supported its right on that occasion to march down O'Connell Street. I call on the fine responsible members of the Orange Order in the North of Ireland, of whom there are so many, to dissociate themselves fully from this statement yesterday by the Orange Order regarding the Pope. It is unhelpful, archaic and out of place in a modern world. When one thinks of the other difficulties which have come about in the world as a result of religious issues, often resulting in violence and tragedy, it behoves everybody who has any faith whatsoever to be tolerant towards each faith whenever that opportunity arises.