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

In all my contacts with the Northern Ireland parties over recent months, I have underlined, and will continue to underline, the importance of finding workable solutions to the crucial issues, with particular reference, as stated by the Deputy, to budgetary and welfare issues. I point to the Stormont House Agreement as having the potential to benefit Northern Ireland across a wide range of issues and it must be implemented in its totality. I have already stated that, in my view, which is a view I have made clear on a number of occasions, there needs to be a recognition of the post-conflict society that is Northern Ireland. We need an element of creative thinking and resolute leadership, which elements are needed to overcome the challenges we now face. While we are heading towards the summer months and parliamentary recess, this small window of opportunity of the next few weeks must be used to ensure the political leaders in Northern Ireland, across all parties, face up to the responsibility, find a sustainable resolution to the issues at hand and intensify their efforts on advancing and progressing the Stormont House Agreement as a whole.

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