SF praise for IRA role draws protests in House

Dail Report: Praise for the IRA leadership by the Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, led to heated Dáil exchanges yesterday.

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said it was important that everybody be measured. "I would not applaud anyone who killed and maimed in the name of Ireland and carried out dreadful atrocities for far too long," she said.

Mr Ó Caoláin had expressed his disappointment, and that of his colleagues, at the failure so far to achieve the goal of full implementation of the Belfast Agreement, a goal to which Sinn Féin was "absolutely committed".

He added: "I join with other voices in the House in commending the efforts of both governments and of the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister.

"I also strongly commend the courageous efforts of the Sinn Féin leadership and negotiating team who have demonstrated an absolute commitment to the address of the difficulties that have bedevilled this island and the neighbouring island and our relationship for generations. They have shown themselves to be courageous leaders.

"I wish also to commend the leadership of the Irish Republican Army which has clearly demonstrated its preparedness to take historic and unprecedented steps."

Mr Ó Caoláin was heckled by a number of deputies. Ms Joan Burton (Labour, Dublin West) said there was only one army in Ireland and that "Dáil Éireann recognises only one army".

Mr Ó Caoláin remarked: "That must be acknowledged." He added that utterances should be "measured".

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said that the difficulties which arose related to more than just a photograph. "There are a number of issues, as the Taoiseach has confirmed. "Clearly, what we want to see is an end to paramilitarism and criminality in all its forms," she added.

She said that the Government wanted to proceed to ensure that the agreement, which had been supported by the majority of people on the island, was implemented in full.

Ms Harney said she would ensure the opposition parties were briefed in advance of the Dáil debate. "It is an evolving situation and we are dealing with delicate and sensitive matters," she added. "We must all be responsible. The debate next week will be a full one."

Earlier, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, expressed regret that a final agreement had not been reached.

"Credit must be given to both the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister for the extensive time they have devoted in attempting to resolve this matter in recent years. It is a disappointment to everybody that it has not been possible to conclude it successfully," he added.

He asked if there would be an attempt by the Government in the coming days to arrange for the DUP and Sinn Féin to sit down together, face to face.

"Proximity talks brought a great measure of progress on some very sensitive issues, but the issue to which the Tánaiste referred yesterday - the modality of decommissioning and its verification - remains the problem," said Mr Kenny.

The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said most people on the island would find it incomprehensible that a comprehensive agreement was, or is, being put a risk by the demand for a photograph, and that the other side was prepared to put it at risk by the refusal of such a photograph.

He hoped, he said, that before next week's Dáil debate the Government would publish the remaining documents, including those relating to the killers of Det Garda McCabe and the issue of the right of audience in the Oireachtas for elected representatives in Northern Ireland.

The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said his party was gravely disappointed, but not entirely surprised that there had been a stalling in the process.