Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the proposal made by Senator Norris that this House should have the opportunity to debate the comments of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. I also agree with the tone of caution in his contribution. I do not believe it is possible that those remarks were a solo run on the part of the Attorney General. I believe there is a choreography taking place here to normalise political life in Northern Ireland, normalise relationships between the Republic and Northern Ireland and to normalise relationships between Ireland and Great Britain. I presume the visit by the Queen was part of that and that the forthcoming state visit by the President to Great Britain is also part of it.

The difficulty with the Attorney General for Northern Ireland's comments is that it has created a knee-jerk debate, as we have seen in the broadcast media this morning. This is a complex and complicated issue. There is still a great deal of raw emotion among the public and there are many bereaved people who have been condemned to suffering for life. There are many such issues, so I am not sure what the Attorney General for Northern Ireland felt he could achieve.

When one considers that it would require legislation not just in Northern Ireland and the UK, but also here, has there been any debate? I have commented here in the past on the vacuum that has been left in the peace process. I have seen it myself on my many visits to Northern Ireland. When there is a vacuum, that is the time difficulties will arise. I would have thought that this discussion initiated by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland would have taken place with all the parties and people involved. I also felt there should have been choreography attached to this. I can never understand why a truth and reconciliation commission was not set up because that should have been the very first thing that happened. As a result of it not being established, every day, we now see elements of this debate absolutely removed from the overview that we should have. That is not helpful to the peace process. I do not think the debate which began yesterday will be helpful to the peace process. That is why I feel this House can play a very definite, important and central role. It would not involve getting excited or emotional but if we had a rational and methodical debate realising that the net result can be negative or positive, this House will have made a major contribution. I appeal directly to the Leader because of its seriousness that he consider in the very near future - perhaps next week - initiating this debate but discussing with the other leaders the form of that debate, the methodology for doing it and how we hope to have any input into the debate, which I think will very quickly go off the tracks outside if someone does not try to focus it in the early stages.