HC Deb 11 March 1998 vol 308 cc246-7W
8. Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the current peace talks. [32135]

20. Mr. Savidge

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in the multi-party talks in Northern Ireland. [32149]

Marjorie Mowlam

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Norfolk (Dr. Turner) earlier today.

9. Mrs. Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the role of women in the peace process. [32137]

Marjorie Mowlam

Women have played a vital role in bringing the peace process this far, both in politics and in civic society. There is a vibrant network of women's groups working to promote a peaceful society and one in which all traditions are respected. They are to be commended.

14. Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the European Union has taken to support the peace process in Northern Ireland. [32143]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The European Union is funding the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation which aims to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Additional EU aid for the Programme was recently announced for 1998 bringing the total awarded to 320 mecu, about £220 million.

18. Mr. McWalter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions there have been in the multi-party talks concerning measures to build confidence in the peace process in Northern Ireland. [32147]

Marjorie Mowlam

The whole talks process is designed to secure a political agreement which will build confidence throughout the Northern Ireland community. A particular sub-committee on confidence-building measures has had eight meetings to discuss elements identified in the Report of the International Body as needing to be addressed as part of building confidence in the political process.

25. Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the process of exclusion from, and re-admission to, the peace negotiations in respect of political parties in Northern Ireland. [32154]

Marjorie Mowlam

The Government have made it clear that they wish to see a fully inclusive talks process but that participation in the negotiations is dependent upon total and absolute commitment to the Mitchell principles of democracy and non-violence. Any party which demonstrably dishonours those principles is no longer entitled to participate in the negotiations. Both the UDP and Sinn Fein have been excluded from the negotiations on that basis in recent weeks.

The two Governments said, in relation to both parties, that if, over time, a complete, unequivocal and unqualified ceasefire were demonstrated and established through words and deeds to have been fully and continuously observed by the organisations with which they were linked, they would be eligible to rejoin the negotiations.

The Governments also noted, on the exclusion of Sinn Fein on 20 February, that this approach could not be maintained in the event of further violence by the organisations linked to these parties. All parties should have no doubt about the two Governments' resolve in such circumstances.