- Madam President-in-office, Mr President, dear Colleagues, firstly I would like to thank the President of this Parliament for the solemn statement he made on the recent developments in Northern Ireland. The fact that his statement received the full support of this House shows the deep interest and concern felt by all Members in the possible operation of the peaceful and democratic dialogue in Northern Ireland which we all so urgently require and welcome.

I would like to thank Madam President-in-office for being with us this morning on this very important occasion and for her most valuable and supportive statement concerning the peace process. I would like as well to thank the Commission for its statement today. It is most supportive and symbolically and politically important.

On behalf of the European Democratic Alliance, I welcome the announcement by the IRA of a complete cessation of the violence and their definitive commitment to the democratic process. I would congratulate all those who helped to bring about this positive development, in particular my own Prime Minister Albert Reynolds, John Hume, a Member of this Parliament, and the British Prime Minister John Major. I certainly support and endorse the comments made by Pauline Green in relation to John Hume. I can say to John, and it is not new to him, that he did walk alone for a long time and very few of us, I was one of the very few, supported him publicly and defended him when it was not popular to do so.

Unfortunately there are other paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland who have not yet renounced violence. I believe that the European Parliament should send a loud and unequivocal message to these groups that the time has now come when they too must end their violent activities and commit themselves to resolving their grievances through peaceful and democratic methods. The civil strife and violence which has plagued this region of Europe for the last twenty-five years has resulted in well over 3,000 deaths and many more injuries and has caused deep divisions within and between the two communities in Northern Ireland. However I believe that these divisions can be healed and that we now have a unique opportunity to begin the process of reconciliation.

The most immediate priority is for representatives of all constitutional parties in Northern Ireland together with the British and Irish Governments to begin talks with a view to establishing institutions and structures which will allow both communities to work together in all areas of common interest. This process should be accompanied by a comprehensive programme for economic reconstruction, both in the North and in the border areas. The European Union already plays a major role in the economic life of this part of Europe through existing instruments such as the structural funds, the common agricultural policy and the Interreg programme. In addition the European Union has consistently shown a special regard for the need to help the two communities in Northern Ireland, for example with financial contributions through the International Fund for Ireland. The European Union's involvement in this Fund is valued and appreciated by the great majority of Irish people and I hope it will continue for some time to co

me.

I am thankful for the statement that the European Commission is now ready to enter into immediate discussions with the Irish and British Governments to examine how existing instruments can be adapted and what additional measures are now required to respond to the new circumstances in Ireland.