§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's comments in Liverpool on 21 November 103WA that "Unionists have still to be convinced that their culture is really understood, let alone respected in the Republic of Ireland" represent government policy; and [HL1635]
Whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's comments in Liverpool on 21 November that "the Unionist community feels itself isolated with its foundations eroded and victims of violence who are witnesses to a stream of concessions to the other side" represent government policy; and [HL1637]
Whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's comments in Liverpool on 21 November that "Northern Ireland must not become a cold place for protestants, or we will have failed" represent government policy. [HL1639]
§ Lord Williams of MostynQuotations taken out of context rarely give the whole picture. In his speech in Liverpool on 21 November, the Secretary of State drew attention to the fact that despite the very many gains achieved for all sides through the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, there is still a perception among many unionists that their traditions, needs and aspirations are somehow respected less than those of the nationalist side of the community.
As explained by the Secretary of State, the Government do not believe this to be the case. The Belfast Agreement addresses many of the deep-seated concerns of both sides of the community in a balanced way, taking parity of esteem as one of its guiding principles. However, as a consequence of its implementation many fundamental changes have been
Northern Ireland Security Statistics 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (to 3 Dec) Murders By Republican 35 24 7 9 5 37 4 4 3 By Loyalist 47 37 2 5 15 17 3 14 11 Shooting incidents By Republican 166 103 15 34 79 62 43 71 93 By Loyalist 202 191 10 50 90 103 65 183 219 Bombing incidents By Republican 201 140 2 11 59 33 0 18 40 By Loyalist 56 65 0 3 18 88 74 94 278 Casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings By Republican 25 54 0 3 26 38 26 50 63 By Loyalist 60 68 3 21 46 34 47 86 114 Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults By Republican 6 141 141 172 78 55 44 52 49 By Loyalist 35 38 76 130 78 89 90 76 85 Note: Statistics for 2001 are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment at a later date.
Great Britain Security Statistics for Republican Groups 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (to 3 Dec) Bombing incidents 23 31 2 7 5 — — 3 5 Shooting incidents 3 1 — — — — 1 — — Finds 1 4 1 6 2 3 6 — 1 Other 1 — — — — — — — — Note: Statistics for 2001 are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment at a later date.
104WAinstigated in a relatively short space of time; and change can be a very unsettling experience.
The Secretary of State's intention in making this speech was to acknowledge that both communities in Northern Ireland are in need of persuasion. He expressed the Government's desire to work towards reversing negative perceptions of the political process and encouraging unionism and nationalism to embrace the changes which are being brought about; to encourage all sections of the community to feel that they belong to the new Northern Ireland. He also called on political and community leaders in Northern Ireland to take an active role in achieving this goal. Taken in its entirety, the speech is a reflection of government policy.