09-19-2020, 08:54 PM
Mr Speaker,
With your leave I wish to inform the House of the Government’s intention to reconvene cross-party talks in Northern Ireland with the aim of securing peace for Northern Ireland and a cessation of violence.
I would first like to pay tribute to the brave men and women who serve in our police and security services, they are the vanguard that protect us all against this violence. The move towards reconvening these talks is long overdue, and a failing that the Government must accept, but I hope that the spirit of cross-party work and hopefully consensus will drive us all forward to peace.
The recent action by the IRA in bugging the office of the Foreign Secretary demonstrates a new escalation of the capabilities of the IRA, and that must be a cause for concern for all of us. It most certainly is for the Government, and as a result of this the Home Secretary will be outlining further security measures that the Government will be undertaking to ensure security is paramount. I will allow the Home Secretary to detail these in his statement.
However, I am informing the House that I have extended invitations to parties from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland Government and representatives of the Labour party and Liberal Democrat party to engage in frank and honest discussions on how to secure peace in Northern Ireland and the transition away from the violence we have experienced for too long. I am certain that all members will agree with me that peace in Northern Ireland must be achieved, and I hope that these talks will be the beginning of this process.
The parties that have been invited are: the Ulster Unionist Party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Sinn Fein, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Ulster Popular Unionist Party and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. These six parties represent a cross-section of the political opinion in Northern Ireland and are all essential to any peace process moving forward successfully. While we may find ourselves sitting across the negotiating table with people we have long mistrusted or opposed it is imperative that we set those feelings aside to deliver peace.
I look forward to working with all parties involved in an open and constructive manner, and I will update the House once talks convene and progress is made.
With your leave I wish to inform the House of the Government’s intention to reconvene cross-party talks in Northern Ireland with the aim of securing peace for Northern Ireland and a cessation of violence.
I would first like to pay tribute to the brave men and women who serve in our police and security services, they are the vanguard that protect us all against this violence. The move towards reconvening these talks is long overdue, and a failing that the Government must accept, but I hope that the spirit of cross-party work and hopefully consensus will drive us all forward to peace.
The recent action by the IRA in bugging the office of the Foreign Secretary demonstrates a new escalation of the capabilities of the IRA, and that must be a cause for concern for all of us. It most certainly is for the Government, and as a result of this the Home Secretary will be outlining further security measures that the Government will be undertaking to ensure security is paramount. I will allow the Home Secretary to detail these in his statement.
However, I am informing the House that I have extended invitations to parties from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland Government and representatives of the Labour party and Liberal Democrat party to engage in frank and honest discussions on how to secure peace in Northern Ireland and the transition away from the violence we have experienced for too long. I am certain that all members will agree with me that peace in Northern Ireland must be achieved, and I hope that these talks will be the beginning of this process.
The parties that have been invited are: the Ulster Unionist Party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Sinn Fein, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Ulster Popular Unionist Party and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. These six parties represent a cross-section of the political opinion in Northern Ireland and are all essential to any peace process moving forward successfully. While we may find ourselves sitting across the negotiating table with people we have long mistrusted or opposed it is imperative that we set those feelings aside to deliver peace.
I look forward to working with all parties involved in an open and constructive manner, and I will update the House once talks convene and progress is made.