The British and Irish Governments recently confirmed their intention to convene all-party talks involving both Governments. The Government is of the view that such talks are now required to overcome the current political impasse in Northern Ireland across a range of issues. The Government's priority is to ensure that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement not only function, but work to the benefit of all. There have been continual discussions between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over the past number of weeks, including with the political parties in Northern Ireland, to get their assessment of the situation. I understand that the Minister and the Secretary of State are also meeting in Dublin this afternoon.

I have spoken with the British Prime Minister on a number of occasions. There has also been close engagement between our respective officials. The culmination of these engagements was the announcement on 28 September of the intention to convene a new round of talks, with the involvement of both Governments. The precise modalities of these talks will be worked out over the coming period. The Minister will stay in close contact with the Northern Ireland parties and with the Secretary of State in the immediate period ahead as preparations for the talks process get under way. The Minister was in the United States last week, where he had the opportunity to discuss the political situation in Northern Ireland and ongoing support for the process with the US Administration, including the United States Secretary of State and the Vice President.

The Irish Government remains firm in its support for the Parades Commission as the lawful authority on the issue of parades. The Parades Commission does a difficult job in challenging circumstances and its authority should not be undermined. I understand from conversations the UK Secretary of State has had with the Minister that she fully shares our concern that the lawful authority of the Parades Commission must not be undermined. Where specific contentious parades are concerned, experience has shown us that the best means of addressing them is through local dialogue and mediation.

I last spoke with the UK Prime Minister by telephone on Friday, 19 September. On that occasion we discussed the outcome of the Scottish referendum. We also discussed the political situation in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister and I both want to see the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement working and delivering positive outcomes for the people of Northern Ireland. We maintain very close contact and this will continue in the period ahead. I expect to speak to the Prime Minister again at the European Council meeting later this month.

Last Friday, I chaired the North-South Ministerial Council plenary in Dublin Castle, where I met with the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. I took the opportunity in advance of the meeting to discuss the current political situation with the First Minster and Deputy First Minister. I urged them to engage wholeheartedly in the new talks.

As regards related issues raised, while I have not had an opportunity to visit Northern Ireland in recent months, I expect to visit Enniskillen in November for Remembrance Sunday and Armagh in December for the next North-South Ministerial Council plenary. I have not discussed the request for a referendum on a united Ireland with the Prime Minister, the First Minister or the Deputy First Minister and I did not discuss Ireland's corporate tax regime during my recent conversations with the Prime Minister.

I have not had an opportunity to speak with or meet the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond since or in the lead up to the Scottish referendum but I wrote to him recently to convey my personal greetings and good wishes following his decision to step down as First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party. I intended to ring him but he was unable to take the call because of the follow through from the outcome of the referendum. I also told him that his achievements over the course of his career in politics have been many and impressive and that under his leadership, his party had irrevocably changed the politics of Scotland.

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