A Cheann Cohmairle,
last Saturday in Omagh a despicable act was carried out which has been universally condemned by all in both parts of this island and will be counter-productive to the perpetrators.
I want to convey my utter abhorrence for the brutal and senseless killing of Constable Ronan Kerr. I know I speak for everyone in this House in expressing my deepest condolences to his family.
We must remember that, in the first instance, the callous murder of Constable Kerr has left his mother Nuala grieving for a lost son and Cathair, Aaron and Deirine without a much loved brother.
Their loss is a terrible one and I send them my deepest sympathy at this very sad and dark time.
Ronan Kerr’s death is a severe loss to his family. He is also a great loss to his friends and community, to his fellow GAA players, to his colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and to all peace loving people on this island.
I was particularly moved by the words of Nuala Kerr who, in the midst of her shock and grief, was brave enough to speak out against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act and to urge Catholics not to be deterred from joining the PSNI – a sincere sentiment later reinforced in the statements from the First and deputy First Ministers.
I spoke with Nuala Kerr yesterday. Despite her loss she welcomed my call and spoke so warmly and with immense pride about her son, Ronan. Her dignity at what is a deeply sad time for the Kerr family impressed me greatly.
I intend to offer my sympathy to her and her family in person tomorrow.
In totally condemning the callous killing of a young man who had decided to dedicate his life to protecting the people of Northern Ireland, I am joined by all of the political voices on these islands.
What is especially striking is the speed with which all sections of the community have moved to express their utter outrage at this unlawful and merciless slaughter.
The condemnation of this act has been broad based and swift.
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Alan Harper and Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt. Rvd. Ken Good were so correct when they said that
“.. the cruelty and shame of those who committed this act, either in planting the device or in supplying of information, is displayed for all the world to see.”
In his statement the Ulster GAA President summed up what I am sure many feel when he said
“.. his (Constable Kerr) death demeans humanity and is detrimental to the development of a shared future based on mutual respect.”
Later he described the attack on one of its members as an “attack on us all”.
I join with Prime Minister Cameron when he said that
“.. those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past.”
Since the terrible incident on Saturday I have spoken to Prime Minister Cameron and to the First and deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. Many Ministerial colleagues have been in touch with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We are all equally determined in combined effort to maintain peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland. We will not waiver from that task.
Saturday’s attack was an attack on community policing. Its impact has been felt by both police forces on this island.
The Garda Commissioner put it so well when he said that while the gardai and PSNI wear different uniforms, they are woven together by what they do.
The extent and quality of cooperation between the Gardai and the PSNI is of the highest level and is proving to be a successful collaboration. The increased level in dissident activities over the past two years has been met by greater levels of cooperation between both forces. Saturday’s events will only strengthen that cooperation.
This Government will provide every support to the investigation into this crime. I know from the Minister for Justice who has been in touch with his opposite number, Minister David Ford, that every support will be given to the PSNI in this case.
This shocking event brings to mind the violence and destruction that was unfortunately so much a part of the past in Northern Ireland and which brought previous tragedy on the people of Omagh.
We must also remind ourselves that in recent years, as a result of the Peace Process, we have seen a new era develop that has totally transformed Northern Ireland, the relationships between both its traditions and the relationship between North and South.
Saturday’s terrible event will not deflect us from this path of peace.
I join with the PSNI Chief Constable and the Garda Siochana in appealing to members of the public who have any information relating to the criminals responsible to come forward. No effort must be spared in bringing them to justice. This was a heinous and pointless act of terror by a small segment of the population whose motivation lies in the dark past.
The rejection of this awful crime and the united response of the political parties and of civic society sends a very clear message. We will, quite simply, not allow a return to instability and violence. The democratic will of the people will not be defeated.
The democratic institutions and the peace that has been so hard won are being challenged by a tiny and unrepresentative group of people with no mandate and no support for their actions. They are acting in defiance of the peace process so whole-heartedly supported by the people on this island.
The Good Friday Agreement made clear the people’s commitment to peace, to creating a stable society founded on mutual respect, on equal rights and opportunities for all its citizens.
The Agreement provided the basis on which Northern Ireland has reached a new era - an era of peace, of mutual respect and of co-operation. It provided a firm basis for reconciliation and renewal and helped to bring to an end the historical legacy of mistrust and bitter conflict.
The Good Friday Agreement provided a framework for a new beginning, a new era marked by tolerance and respect for all people and all points of view on this island.
The Constitutional amendment so emphatically endorsed by the people in 1998, sets out clearly our commitment to working in partnership and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, with equal regard to the diversity of their identities and traditions, recognising that a united Ireland shall be brought about only by peaceful means with the consent of the majority of the people, democratically expressed, in both jurisdictions in the island.
These are the principles that are strongly adhered to today and that continue to guide Government policy.
Through all the twists and turns over the last number of years, it is the Agreement that has endured – not just its institutions, although they are central, but also to the very principles and aspirations that it embodies.
Those principles and aspirations continue to guide us as we continue to work together to make a better future and resolve never to return to the pain, suffering and darkness of the past.
The Good Friday Agreement represents the absolute democratic will of the people of this island, North and South. Its implementation is an imperative to a peaceful and prosperous future on this island.
Last Saturday’s tragedy is completely contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Agreement. It was an action of a past which we have all moved on from, a brutal action that offers nothing to the present day or to the future.
It was a cold and calculated act carried out by what the Deputy First Minister described as “enemies of peace”, “enemies of the people of Ireland”.
When the Northern Assembly rose at the end of March in advance of the Assembly elections it marked the longest continual period of operation of the institutions in the North since the Agreement. This is a significant achievement, a historical milestone.
I wish to acknowledge the commitment and determination of the political leaders in Northern Ireland to work together to create a new future.
They demonstrate the primacy of democracy and hope over violence and despair.
They have shown that the institutions work. They have displayed a firm commitment to tackling issues that concern everyone, including the economy, jobs, health, education, infrastructure and quality of life generally. Above all the political institutions offer hope for the future.
The First and deputy First Minister in referring to those who perpetrated this act gave a clear message that the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland are now stronger to-day than ever before.
In this context, the upcoming elections represent the normalisation of politics in the North, a normalisation brought about by democratic politics, democratic votes and adherence to the rule of law by a forward looking society.
In our Programme for
Government, this Government sets out its full support for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement.
We are committed to publishing and acting on the recommendations of the first Review of the North-South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation; and we will progress the second part of the Review to identify new areas for North South Co-operation.
Promoting greater economic co-operation on this island to accelerate the process of recovery and the creation of jobs is also a clear part of our agenda.
We are committed to progressing these issues through the work of the North South Ministerial Council.
The degree of co-operation at all levels between North and South and across a wide range of key sectors continues to develop.
We have seen a transformation of relationships on this island. Relations between nationalism and unionist have been transformed as have relations between North and South and between Ireland and Britain.
A Cheann Comhairle,
this Government remains firmly committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to maintain peace in Northern Ireland, to build on the historical achievements which have been made, and to create a better future for everyone on this island.
I hope and pray that the tragic death of Ronan Kerr will mark a turning point for those who might lean towards supporting violence as a way forward.
Violence is very clearly not the way forward.
It can not and it will not succeed in dividing us.
This House is united today, as is our country, in remembering the life of a proud Irishman, Constable Ronan Kerr.
A proud Irishman, who loved his country and who lost his life in the service of Ireland and in the cause of peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.