178 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to have the situation at Holy Cross Primary Girls' School, Ardoyne Belfast resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1698/02]

The protest along the route to Holy Cross Girls' Primary School in Ardoyne, which started in late June 2001, resumed the following September and continued for a further 12 weeks, with appalling sectarian abuse and physical intimidation being directed at the school children and their parents throughout.

On Friday 23 November, the Glenbryn residents announced a suspension of their protest following a series of meetings between the First and Deputy First Ministers and representatives of the protesters and the Ardoyne parents. These meetings, together with social, economic and other measures offered by the Executive, helped to create the context for a discontinuation of the protest. A face to face meeting between the parents and protesters was held at Belfast City Hall on 25 November to improve the atmosphere and level of mutual understanding. The following day the Holy Cross pupils made their way to and from school without protest for the first time in 12 weeks. This period of calm continued up to the Christmas school break.