- I wish to begin by congratulating all those who have contributed to the peace process. I welcome the belated recognition that Northern Ireland is an area of conflict within the European Union, and that the peace process is a matter of European concern. It is definitely not an internal matter of the United Kingdom, which was the excuse used by Britain for too long.

It is necessary to support the developing peace process in a manner that respects all cultures and traditions as a condition for the long-term security of all citizens. It is also necessary to encourage the dialogue with and between all sections of society, and all involved in the conflict must have the opportunity of being involved in the process for a solution.

However, the role of any assistance should not be to impose any constitutional solution but rather to use Parliament's independence to facilitate debate and assist the progress towards peace and a true consensus.

I also suggest that the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs organize a hearing with representatives of all the parties involved.

As someone coming from the border area, born and brought up there, I welcome the opening of some of the border roads which have been closed for the past 20 years. I also urge an end to the continued blocking of the border roads which are a vital link for people living in border areas between their extended families, their communities, their markets, and even with their own land. These links have been severed; communities depending on crossborder trade, etc. have been devastated; the closure of roads has contributed to high unemployment, mass emigration and, in some areas, total depopulation. These blockades and closures are unacceptable in a so-called "Europe without frontiers".

We would welcome and insist that funds being used to restore these small communities should be used in an ecological way that actually involves all of the people of the area. I would not like to see funds being misused as in the past.

Finally, I would urge all those still involved in paramilitary activity to cease now, and for the demilitarization of all paramilitaries and all security forces. Peace cannot be achieved at the point of a gun either by paramilitaries or by the state.

(Applause)