26 June 1997 Edition
Detailed examination needed
Sinn Féin has pledged to give the proposals from the two governments - announced by Tony Blair on Wednesday - their ``fullest attention and consideration''. They are quite right to examine them in detail.
The most obvious question is whether decommissioning will become an obstacle at a further stage in the process. It has always been a false obstacle, erected by those who do not want any change to the status quo. It has held up the process and it is to be hoped that the two governments have now learned from conflict resolution processes in other areas of the world. Decommissioning has nowhere else emerged as an obstacle in the way it has in the Irish peace process.
Further questions must be asked about the section in Blair's speech where he said: ``The outline of a settlement is clear''. The key elements of this are, according to the British Prime Minister, devolution and ``sensible cross-border arrangements''. It must be asked if this is also the position of the Irish government and whether Blair is laying down a pre-determined outcome to the negotiations.
These and other questions must be answered with clarity.
There is an air of foreboding in many nationalist areas in the Six Counties as the Orange Order seeks to rack up the tension in advance of their Drumcree march. They have filed for numerous new marches and already they have begun to target nationalist areas for provocative parades.
Isolated nationalist communities have the right to live free from this type of intimidation. Their protests are a dignified and determined response to Orange triumphalism and they are to be commended for turning out in numbers to register their opposition.
It is time that the Orange Order realised that the days of coat-trailing are over. And let's hope that the New Labour direct ruler realises that also.
Today Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD takes his seat in Leinster House. He is a former manager of An Phoblacht and all the staff on the paper wish him the very best as the voice for freedom in that assembly. He will be a superb advocate for the republican cause.
The most obvious question is whether decommissioning will become an obstacle at a further stage in the process. It has always been a false obstacle, erected by those who do not want any change to the status quo. It has held up the process and it is to be hoped that the two governments have now learned from conflict resolution processes in other areas of the world. Decommissioning has nowhere else emerged as an obstacle in the way it has in the Irish peace process.
Further questions must be asked about the section in Blair's speech where he said: ``The outline of a settlement is clear''. The key elements of this are, according to the British Prime Minister, devolution and ``sensible cross-border arrangements''. It must be asked if this is also the position of the Irish government and whether Blair is laying down a pre-determined outcome to the negotiations.
These and other questions must be answered with clarity.
Orange intimidation
There is an air of foreboding in many nationalist areas in the Six Counties as the Orange Order seeks to rack up the tension in advance of their Drumcree march. They have filed for numerous new marches and already they have begun to target nationalist areas for provocative parades.
Isolated nationalist communities have the right to live free from this type of intimidation. Their protests are a dignified and determined response to Orange triumphalism and they are to be commended for turning out in numbers to register their opposition.
It is time that the Orange Order realised that the days of coat-trailing are over. And let's hope that the New Labour direct ruler realises that also.
Congratulations Caoimhghín
Today Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD takes his seat in Leinster House. He is a former manager of An Phoblacht and all the staff on the paper wish him the very best as the voice for freedom in that assembly. He will be a superb advocate for the republican cause.