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

I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge his continued interest in this important matter. The Stormont House Agreement is a significant achievement that has the potential to restore effective partnership government in Northern Ireland. It also has the potential to advance genuine reconciliation between divided communities and progress economic prosperity for all. For its potential to be fully realised, it is vital that the provisions of the agreement are implemented effectively and expeditiously. This is a priority for the Government. I am pleased to inform the House that on 20 January the Government agreed to take all necessary steps to implement the agreement.

In the context of the agreement, the Government undertook a number of commitments, which will be an important focus of our work in the period ahead. They include the drafting of legislation, where necessary, on the establishment of new institutions to deal with the legacy of the past. In particular, legislation will be required to establish an independent commission on information retrieval which will enable victims and survivors to seek and receive information on the deaths of their loved ones. As regards financial aspects, the Government committed to the continuation of the annual provision of €2.7 million for the Department’s reconciliation fund, which supports community groups and voluntary organisations working to repair and build relations and trust across the community in Northern Ireland, and to improve relations between North and South and Ireland and Britain.

The Government also committed to a number of measures, which will contribute to economic renewal in Northern Ireland, as well as being beneficial to the all-island economy. They include £50 million sterling in financial support to complete the A5 road project in the north west and a commitment to further progress the north-west gateway initiative. The Government has fulfilled a commitment related to the agreement to allocate €5 million to the International Fund for Ireland to support its important work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties, including the Deputy's constituency.

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