PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND TAOISEACH BERTIE AHERN STATEMENT ISSUED TO PARTY LEADERS
This sets out the governments’ proposals necessary to secure full implementation of the agreement by June 2001, in addition to those already set out in our statement.
Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
As has already been announced, incorporation of
the EHCR into British and Irish domestic law will
take effect from October 2000. The British
government has already invited the Northern
Ireland Human Rights Commission to advise on
the scope for defining rights supplementary to
the convention.
Under the legislation which came into effect in January, all designated public authorities in Northern Ireland will begin to have equality schemes in place from 1 July 2000.
The Irish Commission on Human Rights will be established by the Irish government in July 2000, so that the Joint Committee of both human rights commissions required under the agreement will therefore be established by the end of July 2000.
Both governments will continue to take measures and develop programmes to support the victims of violence and their families.
The British government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000 and publish within six months an action plan for implementing the charter.
Technical discussions on the steps required further to extend TG4 reception in Northern Ireland will continue. Other measures will also be taken including a two-year Irish language TV and film production pilot scheme which will start by April 2001.
Security
The British government will progressively take all
the necessary steps to secure as early return as
possible to normal security arrangements in
Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of
threat. It will report regularly on the steps taken
and will consult with the Irish government, and
the political parties as appropriate, on measures
necessary to respond to any continuing
paramilitary activity.
In particular, both governments will continue to oppose with resolute and determined action any group that uses or threatens violence to disrupt the peace process, taking whatever measures within the law are justified by the threat.
Policing and justice
Legislation to implement the Patten report will,
subject to Parliament, be enacted by November
2000. The new Policing Board will be appointed in
January 2001 and will assume it responsibilities in
April 2001. A new independent police recruitment
agency will be established, and the first process
for recruits to join the Police Service of Northern
Ireland will start in April 2001.
The British government has already announced a six month consultation process on the Criminal Justice Review to end in September, so the government will announce its decisions on implementation in October 2000. Legislation, and a detailed timetable for implementation, will be published by April 2001.
Prisoners
It is intended that, in accordance with the Good
Friday agreement, all remaining prisoners
qualifying for early release will be released by 28
July 2000. Measures will continue to be taken to
facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into the
community, and to address related issues.
We are writing in similar terms to the leaders of other parties represented in the assembly, and of the UDP.
TONY BLAIR, BERTIE AHERN