THE following is the full text of a speech by the Taoiseach at a Fine Gael function in Mullingar last night.
I believe that, in politics, there must be consistency between one's values, the objectives one is pursuing, and the methods used to pursue them.
The values of this State are pluralist. No one religious or political view is so dominant as to exclude others. Our Constitution has had to be recast so as to reflect these pluralist values. I believe that our policy on Northern Ireland should also reflect these core pluralist values.
I do not expect Government and Opposition to be in agreement on all matters involving the peace process. Constructive opposition is always welcome.
I do, however, regret an ambiguity emerging in recent Fianna Fail thinking, articulated especially by the current leader.
My position is clear cut. I have always taken a balanced approach to the Northern Ireland problem and to both communities there.
It was for this reason that I was surprised and dismayed by the views expressed by the current Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, at Arbour Hill. His views differ radically from the inclusive and balanced approach of previous leaders of his party, like Sean Lemass and Jack Lynch, who went out of their way to reach out to both traditions in Northern Ireland. By contrast, Deputy Bertie Ahern seems to want me, and the Government, to reach out only to one tradition.
His views are also very much out of touch with the pluralist and tolerant approach of the majority of our own people, who take Tone's words about uniting "Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter" seriously, and who want this State to live up to Tone's pluralist vision, in its approach to the North as in its approach to domestic politics.
The solution this Government is seeking to the problems of Northern Ireland is consistent with these values. Mr Ahern's approach in some of his comments at Arbour Hill was not.
This Government is seeking a society in both parts of Ireland which has space for both viewpoints, unionist and nationalist where neither viewpoint dominates the other, where this parity of esteem is reflected in the system of government, and where; sectarianism and one sided politics are things of the past.
I believe that your cannot pursue a pluralist goal like that by one sided methods. You cannot claim to be pluralist in domestic polio tics, while taking an unbalanced approach to Northern Ireland, as, Mr Ahern is doing.
If you try this one sided approach, three things happen.
First, your policy will not work. If a political leader fuels anti unionist prejudices in the struggle to achieve his objectives, he will not be able to turn them off again once his objective is achieved. History is full of examples of this.
Second, a political leader who, takes a one sided approach to Northern Ireland puts at risk the hard won pluralism within our own State.
Third, Mr Ahern's one sided analysis of the Northern problems has, as we have seen, already caused problems for loyalist leaders like David Ervine. This is, something that should be noted by Mr Ahern because, unlike the IRA, the loyalist organisations, have kept their ceasefire.
It was therefore very wrong for Mr Ahern to use pejorative, phrases like "chasing after an unresponsive unionist leadership" in his misguided criticisms of this, Government. If we are to have and to keep, ceasefires on both sides, political leaders here must show concern for the views of both sides. Mr Ahern clearly fails, to understand that, in view of the nature of his criticisms of the Irish Government.
People here in the Republic have learned to think for themselves. They know well of the in Justices suffered by Northern nationalists. They are determined to have them put right. But they are also wise enough to know that no nationalist injustice will be solved by aggravating the siege mentality of unionists.
We, in the Republic, can best help to lift that siege mentality by showing tolerance, balance and good example in the public comments we make. One sided public statements appeal to the worst inherited political prejudices, and display a disturbing lack of political judgment at this critical time.