Cowen: Rioting will not undo peace efforts
The Taoiseach today vowed those behind rioting in Belfast would not undo the hard won peace.
In a speech to the Seanad this afternoon, Brian Cowen said the North was in a new era of partnership.
He condemned last night’s violence in Ardoyne which saw police shot at and pelted with missiles and blast bombs by alleged dissident republicans.
“The democratic institutions and the peace that we all worked so hard to achieve are being challenged by a tiny and unrepresentative group of people with no mandate and no support for their actions,” Mr Cowen said.
“They will not succeed.”
He was addressing the Senead for the first time as Taoiseach.
In March dissident republicans killed two soldiers and a policeman.
Mr Cowen said the enduring image of that week in the North was of First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness standing alongside the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, united in their determination that the North would not be pushed back into the “dark days of the past”.
“That proved that we are truly in a new era in our history,” he added.
“The rejection of this mindless violence and the united response of the political parties and of civic society sent a potent message that we will not allow a return to instability and violence.
“Yesterday’s violent events were a further challenge to us all.”
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the violence showed there was still a challenge in securing peace.
“We all hoped that we had moved beyond the violent sectarianism that re-emerged in the North in the last few days and that sensitive periods such as the Orange marching season could pass off peacefully,” Mr Kenny said.
“It is an indication of the challenge that lies ahead in striving to secure peace in the North.
“The recent announcement that the remaining loyalist paramilitary groups had decommissioned their weapons was a real boost to securing long term peace.
“Recent violent events should not be allowed to undermine the right of all people in the North to live in a peaceful community.
“No mandate exists for any terrorist or violent activity in the North.”
