Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing my time with Senator James Heffernan.

Like many others in Ireland, I am extremely disappointed that there is such political instability in Northern Ireland 17 years after the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement. In April 1998, after 30 years of conflict in which 3,500 people were killed, there was much rejoicing over an agreement being put in place to address the many issues that had divided communities and politicians over the decades. Much praise was rightly lavished on politicians from all sides and community leaders who had made many compromises in the interests of peace. The people of Ireland, North and South, strongly endorsed the Agreement and expected it to be fully implemented. World leaders hailed it as a template that could be replicated in other war-torn parts of the world. Some, however, referred to it as "Sunningdale for slow learners" and bemoaned the fact that if such an agreement had been reached in 1973, it would have saved many lives that had been lost in the intervening 25 years.While much has been achieved since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in bringing to an end much of the violence, the reform of the policing system, cross-Border and security co-operation, progress on many aspects of the Agreement has been unacceptably slow and disappointing. The Agreement was designed to address some of the roadblocks such as identity issues, the welfare system and the making of the government's finances in Northern Ireland more sustainable. I acknowledge the part played by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers; the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron. All parties signed up to the Agreement, but when tough political decisions had to be taken, agreement could not be reached. The legacy of paramilitarism and criminality is a major stumbling block and the recent murder of Mr. McGuigan, a matter for the police to resolve, has caused great uncertainty. The issue of criminality and racketeering and the need for additional police resources are obviously being addressed, but cool heads must now get involved. All parties should be brought to the table in order that a lasting solution can be found to the difficulties being encountered. Nobody wants to go back to the bad old days when there was a risk of loss of life. There were major issues to be resolved relating to policing and criminality. On this side of the Border we have an interest in that livelihoods are being impacted on, as are people's properties. I wish success to the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and everyone else who is attempting to broker an agreement that will keep the power-sharing executive in place and bring stability and peace to Northern Ireland.