- Madam President, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. As someone who was leader of a political party in Northern Ireland before moving south of the border and now being a politician representing the Republic of Ireland, this is something which has been at the forefront of my political life. I very much welcome the window of opportunity that has been presented by the cessation of IRA violence. I genuinely and sincerely hope that it will be responded to by Loyalist paramilitaries because violence achieves nothing.

I listened to what Mr Paisley had to say in the debate this morning. I would hope that even at this stage he might yet change his mind. Whatever disagreements one may have with him, he is a formidable and charismatic politician. I would hope in this new situation that he will use his skills in the process of political reconstruction and work alongside other political leaders to build a new Northern Ireland and a new relationship on the island.

As other speakers have said, tribute must be paid and certainly I would like to pay tribute to those who brought this particular set of circumstances about. The special relationship which developed between Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach of Ireland and John Major was critical, as was the support of the Tánaiste, Mr Dick Spring. But I think Parliament is absolutely right to pay tribute to one man and that is John Hume, a man with whom I have had many differences in the past, but who has displayed tremendous persistence and courage throughout his political career and especially in the process leading up to this ceasefire. While it may have been fair to have reservations about his political judgment at times, it was grossly unfair that his integrity was attacked and viciously attacked. His record in the search for a non-violent solution to the problems of Northern Ireland is unparalleled. I think those who vilified him over the last few months should apologize. I think he has been rewarded. He does, in my view, de

serve the credit for that persistence in bringing this new situation about when many of us had given up hope. Certainly I would like to salute you, John!

I also acknowledge the role of Gerry Adams in this particular context, but I am seriously perturbed at the developing attitude which is conferring the mantle of statesmanship on Gerry Adams. I do not forget that up until several months ago he was an apologist for an organization which is responsible for most of the violence in Northern Ireland, along with Loyalist paramilitary organizations. I do not think we need to thank him for stopping that violence. That violence should never have continued. It achieved nothing. What has been achieved has been achieved by politicians persisting and using the democratic process which initially brought about Sunningdale, more recently the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and now the Downing Street Declaration. It makes me sick to hear talk about giving him the freedom of the city of New York. I welcome what he is doing but I also remember what he and his organization have done in the past. I do not see any argument for conferring the freedom of any city because Gerry Adams is no N

elson Mandela. The circumstances in Northern Ireland are fundamentally different from those which operated in South Africa.

I wish all those who are going to be involved in the next stage of the process well. We have taken the all-important first step, but it is going to be very difficult to reach political agreement on developing institutions which can command the allegiance and support of both sides of the divided community of Northern Ireland and indeed to construct alongside that political institutions which recognize the uniqueness of the island of Ireland and the relationship between Britain and Ireland. I wish John Hume, Jim Nicholson and all the political leaders in Northern Ireland well and I very much welcome the statements of endorsement from the Commission and the Council this morning. European aid is welcome, it is symbolic. But the huge economic benefit which will be felt in Northern Ireland and the whole island will come out of the peace dividend itself. I hope that it plays its part in healing the bitter wounds that have lasted for too long.