HC Deb 21 March 1996 vol 274 cc489-90
13. Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of all-party talks. [20420]

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick), and to the hon. Members for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) and for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice).

Mr. McNamara

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman inform the House whether the dog's breakfast of an electoral procedure to be announced later today has been welcomed by the Republic of Ireland?

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I do not recognise as a dog's breakfast anything that has been or is likely to be announced.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

As a Conservative Member who voted against the Anglo-Irish Agreement and treaty because it allowed a foreign country to interfere in the internal affairs of another country, may I ask whether my right hon. and learned Friend agrees that it is important, as we move towards peace talks, that the position of the proper, legally established and responsible majority party in Northern Ireland—the Ulster Unionists—be not undermined in any way?

Sir Patrick Mayhew

It is very important that no proper position should be undermined in any way. I also think it important that we hold to our international obligations and seek to improve them by agreement, where that is possible.

14. Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on developments in the peace process talks. [20421]

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley, and to the hon. Members for Falkirk, West and for Lewisham, East.

Mr. Dykes

May I wish my right hon. and learned Friend and other Cabinet colleagues well in these crucial processes? Is he confident that there is now a good outlook that Sinn Fein will eventually persuade the IRA to declare a renewed ceasefire?

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's good wishes, but the answer to his question is that it depends entirely on members of Sinn Fein, who are excluding themselves. They will be admitted to the negotiations if they lift their own self-imposed exclusion.