First Address to Irish Parliament From a British PM — Vocabulary
Tony Blair
1995 Speech
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We can understand the emotions generated by Northern Ireland's troubles, but we cannot really believe, as we approach the 21st century, there is not a better way forward to the future than murder, terrorism and sectarian hatred.1 more

We have had different approaches to agriculture, to monetary union, to defence.1 more

But I have been optimistic the whole way through.†1 more

This means defining the priorities where common European action makes obvious sense and can make a real difference, like economic co-ordination, foreign and security policy, the environment, crime and drugs.1 more

Today the links between our parliaments are continued by the British-Irish Parliamentary Body, and last month 60 of our MPs set up a new all-party "Irish in Britain Parliamentary Group."†1 more

The Taoiseach and I will meet again next spring in London, with key ministerial colleagues, to give this the necessary impetus and agenda, and will thereafter meet at least once a year to review progress.1 more

But increasingly we share a common agenda and common objectives: •completion of the Single Market and structural economic reform; •better conditions for growth and jobs in Europe; •successful enlargement; •a united and coherent foreign policy voice for Europe; •a more effective fight against crime, drugs, illegal immigration and environmental damage; •flexible, open and accountable European institutions.†

But we have made clear that we are prepared to join later if the economic benefits are clear and unambiguous.†

Those urges to belong, divergent as they are, can live together more easily if we, Britain and the Irish Republic, can live closer together too.†

It incorporates the principle of consent into British constitutional law and repeals the Government of Ireland Act of 1920.†

Even now, in my constituency of Sedgefield, which at one time had 30 pits or more, all now gone, virtually every community remembers that its roots lie in Irish migration to the mines of Britain.†

The Taoiseach and I will meet again next spring in London, with key ministerial colleagues, to give this the necessary impetus and agenda, and will thereafter meet at least once a year to review progress.†

But increasingly we share a common agenda and common objectives: •completion of the Single Market and structural economic reform; •better conditions for growth and jobs in Europe; •successful enlargement; •a united and coherent foreign policy voice for Europe; •a more effective fight against crime, drugs, illegal immigration and environmental damage; •flexible, open and accountable European institutions.†

And I reflect on those, who though untouched directly by violence, are nonetheless victims — victims of mistrust and misunderstanding who through lack of a political settlement miss the chance of new friendships, new horizons, because of the isolation from others that the sectarian way of life brings.†

We have had different approaches to agriculture, to monetary union, to defence.†1 more

Irish parliamentarians have made a major contribution to our shared parliamentary history.†2 more

Our ties are already rich and diverse: — the UK is the largest market for Irish goods.†

But now, the UK and Ireland as two modern countries, we can try to put our histories behind us, try to forgive and forget those age-old enmities.†

This was not the first such atrocity.†

Members of the Dail and Seanad, after all the long and torn history of our two peoples, standing here as the first British prime minister ever to address the joint Houses of the Oireachtas, I feel profoundly both the history in this event, and I feel profoundly the enormity of the honour that you are bestowing upon me.†