- Mr President, I feel honoured to be present on such a momentous occasion, speaking about an event which many of us thought would never take place in our lifetimes - the prospect of real peace in Northern Ireland. It is wonderful to see such unity of purpose among my Irish and Northern Irish colleagues that though we may differ on many issues here in this House, on this issue the majority of us are as one.

A little regretfully I do not say unanimously for there are understandable doubts and fear felt by many about what this peace process holds for them. Although the fighting and the killing has ended, there is still much work to be done in terms of building trust between the two traditions, Unionist and Nationalist, in Northern Ireland. This must mainly be achieved by the people of Northern Ireland themselves through patience, tolerance and understanding.

I am confident that the will is there to see this process through and to ensure that peace is firmly established in Northern Ireland. The people who have put so much outstanding effort into this work are more than deserving of the goodwill and gratitude that has been shown to them here today. John Hume, our own colleague in this House, must be singled out as must the Irish Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, and the British Prime Minister, John Major.

I have had the pleasure of working with Mr Jim Nicholson and other colleagues here in Europe. I have always found him to be a reasonable and reliable man. Today I urge and encourage him in whatever way possible to work to make the peace a lasting one and to use his influence within his own party and its members who count in political life in Northern Ireland.

Finally, Mr President, I would say to Mr Ian Paisley, also a Member here, and a man of considerable influence among his Northern Ireland constituents ...

(The President cut the speaker off)