The Good Friday Agreement: The Alliance view

By
1 April 1998
Press

The Good Friday Agreement: The Alliance View
April 1998

1. Alliance believes that this is a Good Deal for all the People of Northern Ireland. We have always argued for an honourable compromise or accommodation, and shaped our policies on the constitutional question accordingly. This is now what we have achieved.

2. While it is a ground-breaking document, it is not perfect, and is not a solution to all our problems. No party can be entirely happy, every one has had to compromise. This is true for Alliance as much as any other party. NI has been paralysed for years through Unionists and Nationalists insisting on mutually incompatible objectives.

3. The Agreement must be either accepted or rejected as a whole package. After years of negotiations, there can be no cherry-picking. No other Agreement is capable of generating broad-based support across the community.

4. The Agreement reflects many of our ideas: 1. a power-sharing regional Assembly with legislative powers and a proper Executive; 2. accountable North-South structures; 3. a new more democratic East-West relationship; 4. protections for every person’s human rights; 5. entrenchment of the Principle of Consent.

5. There have been two types of compromise. The first are the political ones between Nationalists, Unionists and Alliance. The old quarrel over Northern Ireland’s constitutional status has been aside through near universal acceptance of consent. Institutions have been created that involve sharing. Uniting people within Northern Ireland is more important than fighting over territory.

6. The second type of compromise is about ending the violence. The deal is essentially between the parties with firm democratic roots, such as Alliance, SDLP & UUP, and the paramilitary parties – the UDP, PUP, and Sinn Fein. These compromises involved issues such as decommissioning and the release of politically-motivated prisoners.

7. Alliance is uneasy over these elements of the Agreement. There pose a moral dilemma for us all. These parts of the package where necessary to ensure that the paramilitary parties would accept the deal. Having them on board may increase the prospects of peace, but there are no guarantees.

8. These concessions are not all one way. The release of prisoners will be linked to the wider confidence of the community in the quality of the ceasefires. The places of these parties in the Executive are subject to the acceptance of purely democratic and peaceful means.

9. A strong Alliance voice will be necessary to make the Agreement work. We need to overcome the rigid divisions in our society, otherwise our future remains fragile. Too many people think about ‘two communities’ rather than realising we have one community whose divisions must be healed. Sectarian divisions must not be entrenched. People must be encouraged to move from fixed positions, otherwise the whole structure could eventually collapse. Alliance will designate themselves as “non-aligned” in the Assembly, rather than Unionist or Nationalists. The number of people so described will be an important indicator of any realignment.

10. Finally, the Agreement by itself does not guarantee peace, justice, stability and prosperity, nor the end of sectarianism. But it does provide a solid foundation on which we can build a better tomorrow. This Agreement can lead to the type of non-sectarian society that Alliance wants to see. But to achieve this vision we must work hard.

This is a edited version of an article from John Alderdice to appear in the Belfast Telegraph.

Building a future together

By
1 April 1998
Press

Building a future together
Lord Alderdice
April 1998

Agreement close

The next few months promise to some of the most exciting in Northern Ireland’s history. At long last, despite all the setbacks, we are finally in reach of an agreement in the Talks. We are closer to an historic breakthrough than at any time since 1973.

This current phase of Talks has lasted almost two years. Despite all the play acting, walk-outs and refusal to engage on substantive issues from many, the process is still on course. Both the British and Irish Governments have invested so much political capital in achieving a positive outcome, with the assistance of the Americans. The three independent Chairmen have made an enormous contribution to our forthcoming success. If some of Northern Ireland’s politicians throw this precious opportunity away, it will be hard our people to forgive them.

The shape of this agreement has been clear for quite some time: power-sharing regional government, accountable North-South arrangements, protections for human rights and entrenchment of the right of the people of Northern Ireland to democratically decide their own future, i.e. the principle of Consent. Alliance has been arguing for all of these principles for many years.

The significance of political parties from right across the community can agree on a new set of institutions for Northern Ireland, and the people of Ireland both North and South say ‘Yes’ in a referendum will be enormous. For the first time, all the people of the island will be agreeing on a common way forward. A powerful message will be sent to the paramilitaries, both Republican and Loyalist, that your violence can serve no political purpose.

Rebuilding society

These new institutions will not by themselves solve all of Northern Ireland’s problems. There are many social and economic problems remain to be tackled. Many of our politicians have neglected such issues as they have concentrated on constitutional and security issues. Northern Ireland will remain a deeply divided society. The cancers of tribalism and sectarianism that plague our society must be addressed.

Our new system of government will give the people of Northern Ireland the tools to build a new society. We will be given the opportunity to construct a new future together. Alliance is committed to helping them in this task of building a fair, just, peaceful and prosperous society.

But there are many obstacles to be faced. It can be anticipated that extreme Unionism and extreme Nationalism could join forces in some unholy alliance to bring the hard-earned agreements crashing down.

It is not enough to have an ‘historic compromise’ on institutions of government if the people of Northern Ireland are thrown into mutually opposed tribes. There is substantial evidence from other countries’ experiences with power-sharing that the more rigid the divisions within society, the more unstable that system of government will become. In Northern Ireland, we have the added problem of competing claims for self-determination. Success in our new experiment will depend upon increasing the pluralism within Northern Ireland and mutual acceptance of the principle of Consent.

Already, there is much more pluralism within Northern Ireland than people frequently imagine. Not everyone identifies themselves with Unionism or Nationalism, many people reject tribal politics and become frustrated when other people attempt to label or pigeon-hole them. Furthermore, neither Unionism nor Nationalism are monolithic blocs.

Yet, many people persist in describing Northern Ireland in terms of a ‘two communities’ problem. As if it was not bad enough that the ‘troubles’ have deepened the polarisation in our society, the use of such language creates and reinforces mindsets of division and separation. Perhaps it suits the agendas of some people, but it is deeply damaging to building a common sense of community within Northern Ireland.

Alliance believes that it is important that people are allowed to break out of tribal constraints, that such steps are acknowledged and appreciated, and that they are not disenfranchised or lose any political rights as a result of these choices.

We have been careful in the Talks to ensure that in the forthcoming system of government sectarian divisions or a ‘two communities’ analysis are not entrenched. These structures must on the one hand recognise that there are deep divisions within society, but be flexible enough to accommodate and even encourage a realignment of our political system away from one based on sectarianism to competing perspectives on how to deal with social and economic problems.

Policies pursued by the new Assembly and North-South body should be appraised on the basis of sharing v separation. Will they help overcome the sectarianism and segregation endemic in so many aspects of our society or further add to these problems? The promotion of integrated education is a central objective.

Northern Ireland’s politicians have so far neglected its many social and economic problems. Alliance has called for a strong devolved Assembly with legislative and tax-varying powers to give public representatives the opportunity to shape society. No one seriously believes that Northern Ireland can survive and prosper without help from outside. But we in Northern Ireland need to escape from our dependency culture, and take more respsonsibility for our own actions. It is important that decisions, where possible and efficient, should be taken as close as possible to the people they affect.

We all need to turn our minds to the values that we want to underline Northern Ireland society, post-agreement. For a liberal party such as Alliance, these are straightforward. We must look to a liberal society based on respect for the individual, no matter what culture he or she chooses to identify with, tolerance for diversity, and respect and protection for everyone’s human rights. We need to foster a entreprenurial spirit to help in the creation of wealth, and the social conscience to ensure that everyone has a stake in society and has equality of opportunity, particularly access to free and quality health care and education.

Lord Alderdice is Leader of the Alliance Party.

Alliance puzzled by North Down press vote

By
1 April 1998
Press

North Down Councillor, Stephen Farry, has expressed puzzlement that North Down Council first voted to exclude the Public and Press from Standing Committees, and then voted to readmit the public to these meetings as the Press are members of the public.

Stephen Farry said:

“The decision to exclude press and public from the Standing Committees of Council was a backward step. North Down conducts its business through standing committee of the whole council which in practice become de facto mini-Councils. As long as this remains the case decisions should be open to public scrutiny.

“There are major problems as to how business is conducted within the Council; most other parties are not operating in a disciplined manner. North Down should put its house in order at the expense of open and accountable local government. Other means should be pursued.

“The decision however to readmit the public to these committee meetings is very puzzling. The press are members of the public and are therefore entitled to come along. Discussions and decisions will be in the public domain, and therefore eligible to be reported. Why would some on the Council therefore go to the trouble and raise the controversy over excluding the press, when they immediately reversed their decision? Why was the issue raised in the first place, causing much time to be wasted?”

Poll shows people "hungry" for agreement: Farry

By
1 April 1998
Press

Alliance Party Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has welcomed the results of the Opinion Poll published in the Belfast Telegraph as a strong indication that the people of Northern Ireland are hungry for political agreement.

Stephen Farry said:

“This latest poll shows that the people of Northern Ireland are hungry for a political agreement.

“There is overwhelming support right across the community for a package of measures that closely resembles what could be potentially agreed within the Talks.

“I believe that all the political parties that are seeking agreement should take encouragement from the results, and have the confidence to take the key decisions necessary to deliver the agreement.

“Some people who are opposed to any agreement who will try to rubbish these findings. But this poll was a scientifically conducted poll; it is an accurate reflection of current public opinion.”

Agreement is now in sight: Alliance

By
9 March 1998
Press

Agreement is now in sight: Alliance
9 March 1998

Speaking after the Alliance Party AGM in Portadown, North Down Councillor Stephen Farry has argued that an agreement in the Multi-Party Talks is now greater than ever.

Stephen Farry said:

“As we enter March, the final phase of the Talks has begun. There is now a really strong chance that there will be a political agreement by Easter.

“There are still some obstacles in the way.

“There is naturally much pessimism throughout the community about the chances of an agreement. This is not surprising: many of Northern Ireland’s politicians have let everybody down too many times in the past.

“We are now closer to a cross-community agreement than at any time since 1973.”

Neeson condemns Portadown attack

By
23 February 1998
Press

Alliance Deputy Leader, Alderman Sean Neeson, has condemned today’s bomb attack in Portadown.

Alderman Neeson said:

“I condemn without reservation this disgraceful attack, which is clearly not only an attack on the homes and livelihoods of ordinary people, but an attack on the integrity of the Talks process.”

Neeson attacks Sinn Fein hypocrisy

By
23 February 1998
Press

Alliance Party Chief Whip, Sean Neeson has attacked the hypocrisy of Sinn Fein in trying to portray themselves as victims of the talks process.

Alderman Neeson said:

“Unlike the Loyalist paramilitaries, not once has Sinn Fein apologized to the thousands of real victims who have been murdered and maimed by the bombs and bullets of the IRA. It is sickening to most people in Northern Ireland to watch these apologists for violence troop with crocodile tears on the streets because of their legitimate, albeit temporary, expulsion from the talks.”

Alliance condemns latest murder

By
20 February 1998
Press

Alliance Deputy Leader, Seamus Close, has condemned today’s murder of a man in Dunmurry.

Seamus Close, Lisburn Borough Councillor, said:

“Whatever the circumstances, there is no justification for a single one of the recent murders and shootings. None of the organisations involved have the right to take away human life.”

Talks must deal with future Euro links: Neeson

By
4 February 1998
Press

Alliance Party Chief Whip, Sean Neeson, has called for the Talks Process to put a greater emphasis on Northern Ireland’s future links with the European Union.

Mr Neeson said:

“The Scottish and Welsh Offices have already started major promotional work in Brussels in advance of devolution being established in their countries. They obviously recognise the importance of direct links with the EU, especially as the United Kingdom government becomes more decentralised.

“Northern Ireland people must have a more direct role in negotiating with the EU, as the Europe of the Regions and the principle of subsidiarity become a reality.”

McBride criticises Parades legislation

By
4 February 1998
Press

Cllr Steve McBride, Alliance Party spokesman on Justice and Human Rights has criticised government proposals to amend the forthcoming Parades legislation to require objectors to give two weeks notice of protests against marches.

Cllr McBride said:

“The Parades legislation now before Parliament is extremely important, but the latest proposed government amendment is unwise, unworkable, and unhelpful. It seeks to throw a sop to Unionists by drawing a false comparison between marchers and protesters which will not be in any way helpful in resolving these difficult situations. Those who organise marches are part of organisations and obviously make their plans in advance – they can reasonable be expected to give notice in good time. Protests on the other hand can emerge at short notice and are not normally organised by formal organisations, and of course protesters are in any event covered by general public order legislation. To effectively make illegal a protest for which two weeks notice has not been given is an infringement of civil liberties and one which will simply lead to increased tension and argument. This vital legislation on a crucial issue should not be endangered by this spurious and misguided political juggling act.”