Republicans `at fork in road'

"THE republican movement now finds itself at a fork in the road," the Tanaiste said in his opening speech to statements on the North.

"Does it abandon violence, for once and for all, and proceed along that path to negotiations? Or does it take a wrong turning and carry on with its campaign of terror? The choice is stark the right, and honourable course is clear

Mr Spring's comments, which also outlined the responsibilities to be faced by all, encapsulated the mood of the speeches that followed.

Both he and the Taoiseach and officials from their Departments were praised by speakers from all groups, and in her reply to the statements, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, said she had seen at first hand the personal toll imposed on all involved in the negotiations in recent weeks.

Opening the debate for Fianna Fail, Mr Michael O'Kennedy said it was now up to Sinn Fein to move along with the other political parties. It was clear the Irish people rejected violence.

Like others he had been sickened at what was done over the years by the IRA. Let them not talk about a united Ireland. Let them talk instead about coming together with a common purpose. Let all groups and parties bury the distrust that went back 70 or more years.

The Leader of the House, Mr Maurice Manning, said the London communique represented a victory for politics and politicians.

"It was a vindication of hard, persistent work, of keeping open the channels of communication, of pressing forward in a focused way even in the most difficult of circumstances, of understanding and respecting the complexities and not falling into the triple traps of simplistic instant solutions, recriminations or emotional self indulgence".

Mr Manning said the arrangements in the communique now offered an honourable way forward for Sinn Fein.

In his maiden speech, the new senator, Mr Sam McAughtry, said it was right and proper for Sinn Fein to be told it could not engage in dialogue until the IRA violence stopped.

The killing of innocents and the maiming and scarring of dozens of others at Canary Wharf was exactly the same sort of random killing that had been condemned by Sinn Fein when loyalists attacked Catholics at bus stops, pubs and bookies' shops.

He said that what was rarely mentioned by nationalists in Northern Ireland was that as it was currently constituted "it has to be the most closely monitored place on the planet, for fair treatment, electorally, in the workplace and by the state".

He said all the old Stormont institutions "are now subject to correction by law and discrimination is exposed and dealt with very firmly on a daily basis".

The leader of the Labour group, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, asked what mandate the IRA council had got. If it did not listen to Sinn Fein which had a mandate, it would be left behind by the tide of history.

Mr Feargal Quinn (Ind) believed that the expectations of the public and politicians on the ceasefire "were too extravagant".

Mr John Dardis (PDs) said the power of the people in the country should be obvious. It was reflected in the statements of the Flynn family in Wexford and the voices of ordinary people shown on television demanding peace.

Mr Joe Sherlock (DL) said it was a tribute to the resilience of democracy that the peace process had been put back on course. He congratulated the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste but said it was also a tribute to the ordinary people, such as the 2,000 who had turned up for the rally in Mallow last Sunday.

Mr Dick Roche (FF) said elections in the North would demand extreme patience, support and tolerance. Elections could generate levels of extremism which could exacerbate situations "and plunge us all back into the abyss".

Dr Mary Henry (Ind) said Sinn Fein must now use all its considerable political skills to restart the ceasefire and join in talks.

Ms Madeline Taylor Quinn (FG) said this was a very challenging time for Sinn Fein and the IRA. It was important they were there "as we are breaking into a new era".

The House adjourned until next Wednesday it 2.30 p.m.

The committee stage of the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 1995, resumed and concluded. The report and final stages were passed. The Bill now goes to the President for signature.