Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is not sitting back in the belief that the Northern question has been resolved; and the plans in place to further develop closer co-operation on the island in 2012. [1592/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has transformed life on the island of Ireland. In the May 2011 elections, the people of Northern Ireland gave their overwhelming endorsement to the parties committed to making the institutions of the Agreement work. The Government remains committed to protecting all of the benefits that have emerged from the Good Friday Agreement, and to strengthening the relationship between the traditions on this island. Further strengthening these relationships will require sustained effort on all sides. The Government is fully committed to this process. The main forum for advancing North South economic cooperation remains the North South Ministerial Council. The Programme for Government affirms our commitment to strengthening North South cooperation even further, and to working with our Northern colleagues to develop greater economic collaboration to accelerate the process of economic recovery and job creation on this island.

Sadly, there are those who still wish to disrupt the peaceful society which has emerged in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement. The level of cooperation and mutual support between the Garda and the PSNI in counteracting the threat from dissidents has never been higher, and my own Department continues to work towards erasing the scourge of sectarianism through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Fund.

The decade 2012 -2022 will see the centenary of many seminal events in the history of modern Ireland, North and South. Commemoration of these has the potential to foster reconciliation and deepen understanding between all traditions on the island of Ireland. To this end, the Government has endorsed an overall approach to commemorations where by the Government's own commemorations, any commemorations organised by the public service, and any commemorations that the State supports will respect historical accuracy, promote tolerance, respect and inclusiveness and will recognise the All-Island and East/West shared past nature of the decade. Since becoming Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I have visited Northern Ireland on a number of occasions and, during these visits, have met with my Northern Ministerial colleagues, as well as community representatives. I intend to continue to travel to Northern Ireland on a regular basis to continue building and strengthening relationships.