1 February 2001 Edition
Ó Caoláin raises Trimble ban and FRU
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin urged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to ensure that the meetings of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council, cancelled because of David Trimble's ban on Sinn Féin ministers, should now be held in light of Tuesday's Belfast High Court ruling.
Ahern said that the judgement against Trimble ``clearly has implications for the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council and the wider political context''. Ó Caolain also raised the continuing revelations of the murderous activities of the British Army's covert Force Research Unit.
Addressing the Taoiseach during Dáil Questions on Wednesday, Ó Caoláin said:
``Yesterday, in the High Court in Belfast, it was found that David Trimble is acting unlawfully in refusing to nominate Sinn Féin ministers to the All-Ireland Ministerial Council. Did the Taoiseach raise this matter in meetings with Mr. Trimble and Mr. Blair? Will he do so again in his meeting this evening with the British Prime Minister? Recognising that this is one of the pillars of the Good Friday Agreement dealing with issues of vital concern to people throughout this island, will the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister ensure that the All-Ireland Ministerial Council meetings that were cancelled will now go ahead with the full participation of all the relevant Ministers?''
In response, Ahern said:
``I can assure the Deputy that the judgment of the court will be studied carefully both by myself and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It clearly has implications for the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council and the wider political context...The government's view is that the present difficulties in the peace process are essentially political in nature and are best solved through political agreement and accommodation involving the pro-agreement parties.''
Ó Caoláin then asked:
``Will the Taoiseach raise with the British Prime Minister the activities of the British Army's Force Research Unit? The latest revelations by a British soldier, carried on a television documentary last night, provide further evidence of the covert activities of the FRU and implicate that unit in six killings, including that of the human rights lawyer, Mr. Patrick Finucane, in which the RUC Special Branch is also implicated. Does the Taoiseach agree that truth and justice in these and many other cases involving British State killings and cover-ups, is absolutely essential, particularly in the context of the search for a new beginning in policing?''
Ahern replied that he was well aware of the serious allegations which have been reported over the past number of months regarding collusion. At a meeting this time last year with the Finucane family, he said it was the government's clear view that the case for a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane was compelling and that a public inquiry needed to be established ``into all the circumstances surrounding the appalling murder'' and the government ``will continue to press the need for such an inquiry into the Finucane case and all the surrounding events''.
Ahern said that the judgement against Trimble ``clearly has implications for the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council and the wider political context''. Ó Caolain also raised the continuing revelations of the murderous activities of the British Army's covert Force Research Unit.
Addressing the Taoiseach during Dáil Questions on Wednesday, Ó Caoláin said:
``Yesterday, in the High Court in Belfast, it was found that David Trimble is acting unlawfully in refusing to nominate Sinn Féin ministers to the All-Ireland Ministerial Council. Did the Taoiseach raise this matter in meetings with Mr. Trimble and Mr. Blair? Will he do so again in his meeting this evening with the British Prime Minister? Recognising that this is one of the pillars of the Good Friday Agreement dealing with issues of vital concern to people throughout this island, will the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister ensure that the All-Ireland Ministerial Council meetings that were cancelled will now go ahead with the full participation of all the relevant Ministers?''
In response, Ahern said:
``I can assure the Deputy that the judgment of the court will be studied carefully both by myself and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It clearly has implications for the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council and the wider political context...The government's view is that the present difficulties in the peace process are essentially political in nature and are best solved through political agreement and accommodation involving the pro-agreement parties.''
Ó Caoláin then asked:
``Will the Taoiseach raise with the British Prime Minister the activities of the British Army's Force Research Unit? The latest revelations by a British soldier, carried on a television documentary last night, provide further evidence of the covert activities of the FRU and implicate that unit in six killings, including that of the human rights lawyer, Mr. Patrick Finucane, in which the RUC Special Branch is also implicated. Does the Taoiseach agree that truth and justice in these and many other cases involving British State killings and cover-ups, is absolutely essential, particularly in the context of the search for a new beginning in policing?''
Ahern replied that he was well aware of the serious allegations which have been reported over the past number of months regarding collusion. At a meeting this time last year with the Finucane family, he said it was the government's clear view that the case for a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane was compelling and that a public inquiry needed to be established ``into all the circumstances surrounding the appalling murder'' and the government ``will continue to press the need for such an inquiry into the Finucane case and all the surrounding events''.