A PANEL of speakers at a public meeting in London last night stressed the importance of preserving the Good Friday Agreement.
Chaired by Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew, a captive audience saw presentations from both sides of the Irish Sea urging those in power to nurture the North of Ireland.
Ms Gildernew’s party colleague, Conor Murphy MP, was first to speak and was the first of the panellists to address the issue of the North of Ireland being pushed to the back of the agenda, both in the Republic of Ireland and in Britain.
“It was a beginning, not an end,” he said of the Good Friday Agreement. “It’s very important to remember that we had two sovereign Governments as guarantors.”
The peace deal was signed on April 10, 1998, putting an end to years of violence on both sides during the Troubles. Then Taoiseach and Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair, were the deliberators.
Mr Murphy’s fear, shared by several of his fellow panellists, is that the Agreement is no longer being viewed as an issue of importance in the political administration.
Richard Haass’ involvement in addressing the legacy of the Troubles and the controversial flag issues was commended by the panel.
Baroness Angela Smith expressed her concern over the current administration.
“Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair would stay late, past midnight, every night to make sure the terms of the Agreement were finalised. I don’t see that kind of commitment from the current Government,” she said.
The Good Friday Agreement is a matter of particular importance as Britain gears up for the elections next year.
A growing fear was evident from the panel over the stability of the Agreement and the increasing anti-peace process presence in the North according to veteran Labour Party member, Lord Alf Dubs.
“Young people, particularly in the loyalist community in Belfast, will feel they have got nothing from the peace process,” he said.
Other speakers on the panel included Jennie McShannon, from the Irish in Britain organisation, and Lord John Alderdice, former Alliance Party leader in the North of Ireland.
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