Mary Harney
Question:41 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the framework document for the proposed talks on the future of Northern Ireland will be published. [676/94]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Ireland Peace Process.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:75 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference in London on 22 September 1994; the progress that was made at the meeting with regard to the promised framework document; if a date has been set for the publication of the document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1424/94]
Mary Harney
Question:88 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which he anticipates agreement on the framework document between this country and Britain relating to Northern Ireland; the date on which the agreed document will be published; and the date on which discussions will commence between the Governments and the Northern Ireland parties on that document. [1439/94]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:114 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position on the framework document in relation to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [443/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 75, 88 and 114 together.
The Joint Framework document for political talks on the future of Northern Ireland is the subject of intensive negotiation between the Irish and British Governments at present.
The issues involved are complex and sensitive and require the most careful consideration. While good progress has been made in dealing with them, much work remains to be done and it is not possible at this stage to anticipate with total certainty when our discussions might be completed.
It is, however, the intention of the two Governments to bring this work to a conclusion at the earliest opportunity. I hope to see this done by about the end of the month and to have the document ratified by the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister very shortly thereafter.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have reviewed at regular intervals the progress made by our officials in their work on this document. We availed most recently of the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference in London on 22-23 September to exchange views on a number of aspects and to give instructions for further work. I am arranging to have a copy of the communique issued following the conference placed in the Library.
Decisions remain to be taken by the Governments on how the agreed framework document can best be used to engage the political parties in renewed political dialogue and to encourage them on the road to agreement. Issues such as the timing and modalities of possible publication will be among the matters for discussion by the two Governments in this respect.
The timing of political talks subsequent to the framework document will be a matter for discussion and agreement among all the participants in such talks in due course. The view of the Irish Government is that recent developments offer a unique window of opportunity for progress. We believe strongly that the momentum of the peace process must be sustained by moving to comprehensive political negotiations at the earliest possible opportunity. We will continue to work for that goal.
Does the Minister envisage the discussions on the framework document which, as he says, hopefully will be published by the end of the month continuing in tandem with the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, or does he anticipate one or other of those taking precedence in terms of time at least and, if so, which?
I do not anticipate either taking precedence; they are two quite separate exercises. As the Deputy will be aware, with the round of discussions taking place between the Taoiseach, myself and party leaders here in the course of this week, we are hopeful we can have the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation established by early November. As I said in my reply, we hope to have the framework document published by about the end of the month and I believe it will be helpful to the deliberations and discussions within the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. It is important to have the framework document published and circulated to the parties for consideration as quickly as possible, allowing both processes to continue in tandem.
Will the Minister agree it is much more important for all parties, in particular all parties in Northern Ireland, to become involved in the talks in regard to the political future — which would follow publication of the framework document — and that progress would be made there rather than have a discussion in Dublin involving some parties only at which apparently no decisions are envisaged?
There is a degree of logic in the Deputy's proposition. It is vital that as many parties as possible participate in the discussions. Originally some people envisaged the forum being pan-nationalist. I do not think most parties in this House want to be part of a pan-nationalist forum and I do not foresee it being a pan-nationalist forum. As I said earlier today, we welcome the participation of the Alliance Party in the forum. I hope that others will find some way of making submissions to the forum or be represented on it by way of written submissions or orally. It is very important to respect the views of all parties on this island in relation to the efforts we are all making to ascertain whether we can now develop the opportunity that has existed since 31 August last on the renunciation of violence by the IRA; likewise since last week in relation to the announcement by the loyalist combined military command. It behoves all parties, not just the Government, to participate to ascertain whether we can bring that process to a conclusion which will keep violence, the bomb and bullet, out of Irish politics for the foreseeable future.
In his reply the Minister used the words "comprehensive political negotiations" whereas in other statements the words "inclusive discussions" were used. Will he spell out exactly who will participate in the discussions and negotiations on the framework document? Will he say which political parties will be invited to sit down if that document is published within the next four weeks? In addition, will he agree that it is disingenuous not to make absolutely clear beforehand the exact role of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in regard to the framework document because I understand it will not have a role to play in any negotiation on that document and it would be better to make that clear before the forum is established, if that is the intention?
I have no difficulty in making things as clear as I can at this time. The Deputy will recall I said that obviously the modalities and timing of certain aspects of the framework document must be agreed by both Governments. How the framework document travels, if I may put it like that, obviously must be agreed and has not yet been agreed between the two Governments; that will be discussed at our next meeting. Indeed the Deputy recognises a distinction between the role of Government and Oppostion parties. Obviously the Governments have been working on this framework document for a number of months and we hope to bring it to a conclusion shortly. It will be made available to all parties because I do not think anybody in his right mind would think that one could give it to certain parties only — not that we want to exclude anybody — but obviously that framework document will be central to the negotiations'——
Between whom?
If we can start round table negotiations between the Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland——
What parties? Will the Minister give the names of those who will be at the table?
Obviously that is a matter for the parties themselves. We want all the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland to be at the table, if we can get their agreement. Indeed as the House will have observed at the weekend, that agreement has not yet been reached.
Including Sinn Féin?
We hope all the parties will participate but that has to be agreed first between the Governments and, as the House will be aware, the British Government's position is unfolding in relation to its attitude to the renunciation of violence by the IRA, and I hope will continue to unfold over the next few days. Second, we must get agreement. We and the British Government can issue joint invitations to people to participate in talks but we must await their response.
I expressed reservations that the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation could be counter-productive but I hope my fears will prove unfounded. However, I presume the framework document will deal to some degree with the internal governance of Northern Ireland. What will be the follow-up to that framework document? For example, will those aspects dealing with the internal governance of Northern Ireland be discussed, as it were, like Strand I of the last peace talks? Will it be discussed in tandem with the forum deliberations? Will the Minister outline his perception of the function of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in relation to the framework document, how the forum can contribute to the debate on that document and the necessary decisions that will have to be taken following its publication?
First, as I think the Deputy will recognise, we want to see the framework document agreed and published as quickly as possible, to get it into the public arena. If one was to attempt to do otherwise certain fears and paranoia would be fuelled. I also hope, with the forum getting under way, that the framework document will be a subject for discussion at the forum, allowing all parties to express their views in terms of the efforts of both Governments to set out the framework which will form the basis of the relationships between both islands, setting out a future for Northern Ireland, and the totality of relationships, if I may revert to using that phrase. I hope that the forum will be afforded an opportunity of putting the framework document on its agenda. However, the forum will also have other work in relation to what is necessary to establish peace and reconciliation on this island; it will have a lot of work to do in that regard, perhaps far wider than the parameters of the framework document itself. I do not think we can fully anticipate the work of the forum. It will have a momentum of its own and, as the Government said, will continue for as long as necessary, as long as it can make an input in relation to what is happening in the politics of this island.
Will the Minister say whether the framework document will refer to internal governance in Northern Ireland or — and this is what has been suggested in certain other quarters and is the reason it warrants clarification — will it refer only to those matters which will be covered by Strands II and III of discussions?
I think the Deputy will be aware of the intentions of both Governments to set out the relationships between both Governments and in relation to the future of Northern Ireland. The Deputy will be very familiar with the basis of the round table discussions previously in relation to Strands I, II and III, when Strand I was a matter pertaining to the internal administration of Northern Ireland and in internal matter for Northern Ireland. However, I hope that, when the framework document is published, it will be received and welcomed by all parties because, as we said on many occasions, nobody need feel threatened by it because it will set out in a very realistic and practical way the views of both Governments at this stage in relation to the prospects for Northern Ireland.
Perhaps time will permit us to deal briefly with Question No. 43.