Ireland could play a greater role internationally in peacemaking and conflict resolution, several speakers told a seminar at the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation in Co Wicklow yesterday.
The one-day seminar was organised by the Norwegian embassy and the Glencree centre. Speakers from Norway described their experience of peacemaking in the Middle East, Guatemala and Sri Lanka while participants from Ireland highlighted the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process.
Eamonn McKee from the Department of Foreign Affairs said governments and senior officials were able to set out a detailed framework for peace in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish agreement of 1985.
Even in Northern Ireland, there had to be an intervention from outside, independent of the opposing sides in the conflict. US senator George Mitchell had acted as a "banker" who had the trust of all the parties.
Ireland was "very interested in developing and helping" the new Peace-Building Commission set up by the United Nations to assist societies emerging from conflict.
In response to a question from Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Mr McKee said there were no secret US camps for al-Qaeda suspects in Ireland as was alleged to be the case in certain other European countries.
Tom Arnold, chief executive of Concern, said Ireland had "a debt of honour" to the international community for the role various countries had played in relation to Northern Ireland.
Senior adviser to the Norwegian government Jon Hanssen-Bauer said Norway was committed to strengthening the UN as well as its own efforts at peace and reconciliation. Being a small country could be an advantage as you were not seen as a threat by the parties to the conflict.