Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Smith raised a number of issues. Welfare reform is a matter exclusively for the parties in Northern Ireland. Meetings have taken place at a high level over recent weeks. I take the opportunity at this committee to call on all the parties to redouble their resolve with a view towards reaching agreement on the matter, which is obviously complex as well as being important. I would have thought it was possible to mark progress as agreed prior to Christmas on the completion of the agreement. That did not prove possible. Having regard to the fact that the Assembly is in recess, I understand that should agreement be reached, the Assembly will be recalled to have the final stages of the welfare Bill completed. I cannot say with any certainty that this will happen. I spoke to party leadership figures last week. I keep in very close contact and I hope the outstanding difficulties can be resolved. Again, I am happy to keep the Chairman updated. I am sure there are members of the committee who are as well informed on this matter as I am. I believe it is important to ensure that this does not give rise to an impasse and I am concerned at the fact that the context is the general election campaign. Deputy Smith used the word "parked". I hope these matters can be resolved and I would be concerned by any impasse that might develop which could have an impact on other important aspects of the agreement, so I urge everybody involved to seek a resolution, notwithstanding an acceptance on my part that there are complex and difficult issues involved.

In respect of the historical investigations unit, HIU, I know of Deputy Smith's deep interest in the atrocities in his constituency. He has mentioned the Belturbet bombings and the Castleblayney atrocity on numerous occasions. The intention is that the investigation unit will be established next year. This will involve the passage of legislation. It will take forward cases that were previously under the remit of the historical enquiries team as part of the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland. We need to find a mechanism through which cases under the remit of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland can be transferred to the HIU, but I share Deputy Smith's view that the atrocities mentioned would be covered. It will involve legislation here and in Westminster. I hope there is no delay, notwithstanding elections and possible reshuffles and changes. I can reassure the committee that once agreement was reached on this issue, the resolve was there on the part of everybody to ensure that matters could be progressed. All appropriate arrangements will be set in place to ensure there is full co-operation with the HIU.

On the issue of the civic forum, I share Deputy Smith's view. I would have preferred a forum of the type that has been proposed in the past. However, it is important that we welcome what was agreed in the provision under the Stormont House Agreement to set up a civic advisory panel. The target date is June. The panel will advise the Northern Ireland Executive on a range of social, cultural and economic issues. Notwithstanding that, we will continue to explore other possibilities in respect of the long-proposed North-South consultative forum, as envisaged under the Good Friday Agreement. Bodies such as this committee play a vitally important role in ensuring a direct connection with civic society. I urge the committee to continue to do so. It is essential that all efforts are considered to ensure the voice of civic society is heard and included on all occasions in our policy formation.

Members have addressed the issue of illegal trading in the Houses and outside. I take particular note of the deep interest in this matter of public representatives who reside in the Border area. I recently attended a meeting in Dundalk where this issue was very much top of the agenda. I acknowledge the recent report of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which was welcome in the context of bringing these matters into the public domain. The Government attaches huge importance to combatting organised crime of all sorts. As Deputy Smith will acknowledge, there is a strong operational and strategic focus among the Garda authorities on the matter in this jurisdiction. The Garda continues to work closely with the PSNI and, beyond that, with the UK National Crime Agency in combatting the activities of organised criminal gangs.

There has to be a particular focus on cross-Border crime, including fuel laundering and smuggling and tobacco fraud. Based on my discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality and in Northern Ireland, there is significant co-operation and exchange of information, ideas and intelligence in a way that was not the case in the past. I refer to the annual cross-Border organised crime conference organised jointly by the Garda, the PSNI, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of the Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA, in the North. We need to ensure an element of resolve regarding this issue. I note Deputy Smith's initiative and I would be happy to talk to the appropriate agencies in that regard. Members will be aware of the involvement of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and, in particular, the reaction of the Minister following the release of the recent report, whereby he wrote to his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Mark Durkan, highlighting the negative and adverse environmental impact of fuel laundering on both sides of the Border and the high cost of cleaning up the toxic waste produced by these operations. He will ensure greater co-operation from an environmental perspective.

These issues are also discussed at the regular meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council, including most recently at the plenary meeting last December. I assure members that this will also be agenda item at the forthcoming plenary meeting. I am sure the Chairman will join me in asking that anybody with information about criminal activity make immediate and direct contact with the Garda or the PSNI. No stone must be left unturned in bringing to heel these criminal gangs that are engaged in highly organised illegal activity, which is not only causing serious damage to the environment but is also having an impact on the Revenue Commissioners. This is unacceptable criminal behaviour. Anyone with information should assist in bringing these people to justice and putting them out of business, and allowing for due process under the administration of the criminal justice code.