Why UUP won’t be discussing Ulster’s affairs in the Dail - Nesbitt
Elected representatives from Northern Ireland participating in the Dail may, to some, be of little consequence. However, I see it as an important litmus test of the Irish Government’s view of good neighbourliness towards Northern Ireland. Frankly, their utterances to date are unwelcome.
Do not immediately conclude that I represent narrow-minded, bigoted, unionism. I wish to see harmonious working relations within this island. Since I became involved in politics I have envisaged an inclusive society in Northern Ireland, strongly supporting the 1974 power-sharing Executive.
As a Minister I wholeheartedly participated in North/South co-operation. I still advocate positive political developments within this island, but only on the basis of agreed international norms. Indeed, all developments on a North/South basis require us all to accept these norms.
Bertie Ahern stated last August that there would be no speaking rights in the Dail for Northern Ireland’s MPs but rather he aimed to facilitate committee discussions on matters relating to Northern Ireland and the Belfast Agreement. He repeated this position when writing to all members of the Dail last October, making clear that Northern Ireland’s MPs would participate only by way of invitation.
Mr Ahern further commented in the Dail last month: “It is obvious the House will not agree to anything other than Northern parties attending committees to make presentations and discuss issues in the normal way.” These very recent comments by Bertie Ahern did not alter the fundamental position he adopted many months ago.
What of Sinn Fein’s response to these latest utterances from Bertie Ahern? All consistently rejected his comments. For example, Gerry Adams viewed them as unacceptable, claiming that citizens’ rights and entitlements would be denied. While Sinn Fein makes many demands of the political process, an important theme has been the right to participation in the Dail.
The DUP’s response was in marked contrast. Nigel Dodds welcomed Bertie Ahern’s decision not to pursue the idea of speaking rights in the Dail claiming it as “a major set back for the Republican movement.” He noted that “the concerns raised by the DUP … have been listened to and acted upon.”
However, Mr Dodds should read carefully Bertie Ahern’s comments on this issue and he will see that his latest comments do not represent any alteration to his previously stated principles regarding Dail participation by Northern Ireland’s MPs.
The DUP has made it clear that if Northern Ireland participation in a Dail Committee is by way of invitation only, and not treatment on an equal basis with members of the Dail, then the DUP would not oppose such a proposal - though the party would not participate. In short, Bertie Ahern’s position is not opposed by the DUP.
Remember when the DUP presented an apparently strong image at the 2003 Assembly election. It was going to confront Sinn Fein’s all-Ireland agenda. It argued that if voters chose the UUP this would likely mean more all-Ireland rule.
Yet, rather than resisting Sinn Fein, the DUP committed itself in December 2004 to supporting and encouraging the development of more all-Ireland bodies. Ironically, the DUP supported all-Ireland expansion that under the ‘Belfast Agreement’ was merely to be “considered”.
For example, Nigel Dodds, as a future minister, would be committed to encourage the development of an all-Ireland inter-parliamentary forum - a forum which he and other DUP members, along with the UUP, voted against in the Assembly in May 2002.
Overall, while the DUP is merely concerned as to the process of Dail participation, the UUP has consistently objected in principle to the Irish Parliament discussing Northern Ireland’s affairs: this is against international law, against the Irish constitution and against the Irish Government’s adopted position within the Council of Europe. And, that is before one considers the aspect of good neighbourliness.
Such is the nature of the UUP’s fundamental opposition to Mr Ahern’s proposals, notwithstanding welcoming comments from the DUP and bluster from Sinn Fein.