AP News, October 24th, 2007
Northern Ireland lawmakers are gaining a role in the parliament of the Republic of Ireland for the first time since the island's partition 86 years ago.
The government of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern announced Tuesday it will create a new parliamentary committee that gives places to Northern Ireland lawmakers elected to seats in the British Parliament.
The 18 lawmakers from the British territory will be permitted to take part in debates in a newly formed joint committee on the implementation of the Good Friday peace agreement. But they will not be permitted to vote or offer any amendments on legislative bills.
Leaders of the Irish Catholic minority in Northern Ireland called it an important first step to promote their goal of eventual Ireland unification. But politicians from the Protestant majority, who support the north's place within the United Kingdom, say they will not take part in any Dublin parliamentary business.
The two Catholic-backed parties in Northern Ireland — the hard-liners of Sinn Fein and the moderates of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, or SDLP — called for the Irish government to do much more to boost northerners' voices in Irish politics.
Caoimhghin O Caolain, the leader of Sinn Fein's four lawmakers in the 166-seat Irish parliament, said inclusion of Northern Ireland politicians "will give the committee an essential all-Ireland character."
But he said the move did not come close to satisfying Sinn Fein's demand for full rights for Northern Ireland lawmakers to take part in debates and some votes during full sessions of parliament.
