IRISH PEACE PROCESS

Early day motion 1678, tabled 21 October 1998 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House believes that, having been accepted by large majorities of voters in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, the Belfast Agreement must be implemented in its entirety and that for any participants to seek to block aspects of the Agreement would risk unravelling the complex series of compromises inherent in it; is therefore deeply concerned that there now exists a grave risk that the 31st October deadline envisaged by the Agreement for the North/South Ministerial Council starting its work may be missed; recalls that the Agreement states: 'representatives of the Northern Ireland Transitional Administration and the Irish Government operating in the North/South Ministerial Council will undertake a work programme, in consultation with the British Government, covering at least 12 subject areas, with a view to identifying and agreeing by 31st October 1998 areas where co-operation and implementation for mutual benefit will take place'; further recalls that the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons is not a precondition for the allocation of Ministerial posts by the Northern Ireland Assembly, but that the Agreement commits all participants to 'use any influence they have, to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms within two years'; and believes that Her Majesty's Government should consult with the Government of the Irish Republic with a view to overcoming the present impasse by insisting that the entirety of the Belfast Agreement be implemented, including its timetable for starting the work of the North/South Ministerial Council.

Signatures by party: Labour 16.