Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister and the Ministers of State on their elevation to their new jobs and I look forward to working with them. I welcome the Minister's statement that the British and Irish Governments are to initiate all-party talks. There is a growing sense of crisis in the North and it requires an immediate response. Will the Minister outline a date to begin all-party talks? He stated he is unsure but that he hopes it will be in the next two weeks. Unionists have sought to limit the role of the Irish Government and the agenda. The British Government continues to threaten the Executive with fines over welfare cuts.

I ask the Minister to ensure the talks take place in an atmosphere free from preconditions and threats and that the agenda will include the issues outstanding from previous agreements, including Haass-O'Sullivan, powers and budgets for the North, as well as the operation of the institutions.

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