HL Deb 19 November 1985 vol 468 cc493-5

2.54 p.m.

Lord Denham

My Lords, your Lordships will know that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made a Statement in another place yesterday on the Anglo-Irish Agreement. A full debate is being arranged through the usual channels and is likely to take place next week. It has therefore been agreed through the usual channels that the Statement should not be repeated orally this afternoon, but with the leave of the House I will arrange for its text to be printed in the Official Report.

Following is the Statement referred to:

"With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a Statement about the meeting which I attended with the Taoiseach on 15th November. I was accompanied by my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Dr. FitzGerald was accompanied by Mr. Spring, the Tanaiste, and by Mr. Barry, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs.

"An agreement was signed between our two Governments, which has been published in a Command Paper. The text of the communiqué, issued after the meeting, is also included in the Command Paper.

"The purpose of the agreement is to promote peace and stability in Northern Ireland; to encourage reconciliation between the two communities there; to create an improved climate of friendship and co-operation between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland; and to strengthen cross-border co-operation between the two countries, particularly in combating terrorism.

"The agreement will not come into force until it has been approved by Parliament and by the Irish Dail. The House will have an early opportunity for a full debate.

"The agreement has two principal features. The Irish Government have affirmed in a binding international agreement that the status of Northern Ireland will remain unchanged so long as that is the wish of the majority of its people. They have also recognised that the present wish of a majority is to remain part of the United Kingdom. This is the most formal commitment to the principle of consent mady by any Irish Government.

"The second main feature of the agreement is the establishment of an intergovernmental conference within the framework of the existing Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council. The conference will be serviced by a secretariat on a continuing basis In this conference the Irish Government may put forward views and proposals on certain aspects of Northern Ireland affairs.

"If devolution is restored—both Governments are committed to support this—then those matters which become the responsibility of the devolved Government will be taken out of the hands of the intergovernmental conference. The conference will also discuss cross-border co-operation, including improved security co-operation.

"The two Governments have agreed to make determined efforts to resolve any differences that may arise, but the conference will not be a decisionmaking body. Full responsibility for the decisions and administration of government will remain with the United Kingdom Government north of the border and with the Irish Government south of the border.

"The first meeting of the intergovernmental conference will take place as soon as practicable after the agreement comes into force. Particular subjects on which the conference will concentrate at its initial meetings are: ways of improving relations between the security forces and the minority community in Northern Ireland; action to improve security co-operation between our two Governments; ways to help underline the importance of public confidence in the administration of justice.

"The agreement recognises that it would be for parliamentary decision in Westminster and Dublin whether to establish an Anglo-Irish parliamentary body of the kind described in the Anglo-Irish studies report of November 1981.

"The Irish Government have announced in the communiqué their intention to accede as soon as possible to the European convention on the suppression of terrorism. We welcome this.

"No single agreement can resolve the deep-rooted and complex problems of Northern Ireland and deliver the peace for which the great majority of people in Northern Ireland long, but I believe that the present agreement will make an important contribution. It maintains and confirms the status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom and recognises the legitimacy of the Unionist position. It provides for co-operation in the intergovernmental conference to be a two-way street.

"We shall wish to pursue matters affecting the Republic in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland—for instance, improved security and economic co-operation. It encourages the political parties in Northern Ireland to reach agreement on an acceptable form of devolved government. It offers hope to all those in both communities who want to defeat the men of violence and to work together peacefully for a better future for their children. That is the purpose of the agreement. It is in that spirit that I commend it to the House."