IRA returning to long war strategy - Spring

"THE Tanaiste said the IRA's current strategy was consistent with a return to the "long war" and the politics of isolation.

"The people of this island are watching carefully to judge whether the republican movement is, in fact, capable of supplying the reinforcement needed on their side of the bridge," said Mr Spring. "They, too, have a serious to build confidence.

Instead, we see gross and reckless provocation.

He asked if those who had carried out the "cruel and provocative" attack on RUC constable Ms Alice Collins, on Thursday would dare stand before any representative group of Irish people and seek to justify their actions.

"How far is the sincerity, or otherwise, of those within the republican movement who claim to be working for an end to conflict really relevant if their intentions are belied by actions so brutally, contemptuous of these claims?"

Mr Spring, speaking during the debate on Northern Ireland, said the extensive common ground in the positions of the Irish and British governments meant there was a reasonable and detailed road map towards a lasting accommodation.

"I am convinced that the settlement which will eventually emerge from a process of serious and committed negotiations will broadly be along the lines we have sketched out."

He said the collapse of the IRA ceasefire was a cruel blow to the hopes and wishes of the overwhelming majority of Irish people and friends of Ireland at home and abroad.

"The unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire is, accordingly, the single most urgent and necessary factor in the whole equation. With that we can embark again with renewed hope on the inclusive path towards a political settlement.

"Without it, the dynamic of violence, counter violence and repression again comes into its own, and the political process is once again relegated to the old defensive entrenchments. The ceasefires showed the people of this island not just what might be, but what should be."

Mr Spring said there was a need to refurbish the "negotiating pillar" of the peace process.

"The resumed negotiating process must come to grips with the demoralising failure even to address the substantive political substance after so many months and that in the absence of the particular difficulties which unionists might have felt if Sinn Fein had been present.

"To forestall the prospect of, further indefinite stalemate, we should revisit the notion of an agreed indicative time frame. We must also seek to ensure that the negotiating process is not made hostage to any one issue, however important in itself.

"The Mitchell report offers the only plausible route to actually achieving our goal of decommissioning and would enable us to ensure this is done without blocking the negotiations.

"The capacity of the two governments, acting in unison, to give purpose and direction to the process must be looked at again. The policies of both governments give priority to the full respect for the rights and identities of both traditions, and the negotiating process must serve to advance, rather than hinder, this principle.

"In the climate of anger and frustration we feel currently, it is easy to understand the legitimate fears of unionists and, indeed, of others, that an inclusive process could be abused, not for the consolidation of democratic values, but as a tactical beachhead for paramilitary objectives.

"The inclusive process we have offered is unprecedented but so also are the safeguards on offer to protect unionist interests, including the ultimate safeguard of referendum."

Sen Sean Maloney claimed the short term interests of the Tory" party had, over the past number, of years, taken priority over the peace process.

He said the Anglo Irish Agreement, the Downing Street Declaration and the Framework Documents had all presented an opportunity of going forward However, the unionist parties had found an excuse each time to avoid discussions.

During the 18 months of the ceasefire, the British government, which was depending on the votes of the unionists, prevented a substantive peace process from developing by playing on the word "permanent".