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

I thank Deputy Brendan Smith and his party for their encouragement, support and assistance on this issue. Since 16 October, discussions have been ongoing in the political talks in Northern Ireland convened by the Irish and British Governments. These talks bring together the Northern Ireland Executive parties and the two Governments to address several key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal. The talks are structured around four streams: budgetary and financial matters; legacy issues, namely, parades, flags and identity, as well as dealing with the past; institutional issues including the effective functioning of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive; outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.

The Irish Government’s interest in the talks is to ensure these agreements, and effective partnership government which is at the heart of them, work for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland and across this island. The talks are now in their seventh week. Since 16 October, I have been in Belfast for an intensive range of discussions on Wednesday and Thursday of each week, accompanied by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock. I travel there again this afternoon for a further series of meetings.

I have been encouraged by the constructive approach demonstrated by all parties to date in the talks. Productive discussions are taking place between the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive parties in a range of formats and across each of the talks’ streams. While encouraging progress has been made in several challenging areas, a good deal of work remains to be done if we are to bridge the gaps between the positions of the different parties. I do not underestimate the challenge involved.

It is clear the talks have now entered an important phase in which renewed and intensified efforts are required to achieve a comprehensive agreement. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, MP, and I will be reporting to the British Prime Minister and to the Taoiseach respectively on the state of play in the talks at the end of this week. I hope we will be in a position to report progress sufficient to maintain the engagement. I have said previously that it is my wish that these talks will be completed by the Christmas period.

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