Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Mr. Peter Hain, MP, was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, following the Westminster election in May. I spoke by telephone to Mr. Hain shortly after his appointment to offer my congratulations and to arrange for an early meeting.

I subsequently met Mr. Hain on 18 May in Dublin. This meeting was a valuable opportunity to consider the post-election situation in Northern Ireland, and to affirm our shared goal of securing the implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. We are both entirely at one on the need for an early and decisive response from the IRA and, in turn, a real commitment by unionism to inclusive power-sharing arrangements.

Mr. Hain's previous political experience will undoubtedly stand him in good stead for his new post and the challenging task ahead. I greatly look forward to working closely with him in the same spirit of partnership that characterised my working relationship with his predecessor.

I would like once again to pay warm tribute to Paul Murphy for his immense contribution to the peace process during his time as Secretary of State. Both his political acumen and his unfailing courtesy were appreciated by all those who worked with him and I wish him every success in his continuing career.

Together with the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair, Mr. Hain and I will avail of all opportunities to engage with the political parties in the period ahead in an attempt to move the process decisively forward. I also hope to meet the Secretary of State within the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference later this month.