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

I thank Members for their contributions, all of which will be the subject of careful consideration on my part. I will return to Belfast early tomorrow morning to co-chair the talks as they reach a critical phase. I will take with me a strong message of support from this House - support for the Good Friday Agreement and the need to safeguard its political institutions; support for victims and survivors in their quest for justice and truth; support for a Northern Ireland that is free from paramilitarism and organised crime; support for deepening cross-Border and inter-agency co-operation to tackle organised crime; and support for political institutions that deliver for the people of Northern Ireland and for the benefit of the island of Ireland.

The First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, have recently spoken of the need for an outcome in days, rather than weeks.

It was always the intention that the talks be focused and intensive. There is no doubt the negotiations have intensified in recent days, and I expect this to continue this week. The urgency indicated by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in recent days reflects my own sense that an agreement can be reached very soon.

I must also acknowledge that while good progress is being made, significant challenges remain, with a number of crucial gaps needing to be bridged between the parties. It is, therefore, not just a question of timing but also one of substance. It is important that both elements of the talks - the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and the impact of the legacy of paramilitarism - are meaningfully addressed in any agreed outcome. The Government strongly believes that the best agreement is one that is forged with all five Northern Ireland parties participating, and one they can support and commit to implementing. That is the objective to which we are working.

It must not, however, be an agreement that simply carries us forward a few months. I know the people of Northern Ireland are fed up of moving from crisis to crisis, from crisis to agreement and back to crisis again. The seemingly perpetual political paralysis has understandably undermined public confidence and faith in politics and the political institutions. Current talks have the capacity to move Northern Ireland towards a brighter future by agreeing a collective long-term vision for Northern Ireland, a vision that achieves the endorsement of all the parties to the talks and, above all, a vision that engenders and inspires a collective will to deliver: to deliver clear blue water between elected politicians and paramilitary organisations, and to work towards the eradication of paramilitarism for all time; to deliver consensus on a new approach to tackling organised crime, putting in place arrangements that build on the strong cross-Border co-operation between law enforcement authorities and agencies, both north and south of the Border; to deliver the institutions envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement for dealing with the past, ensuring that they serve the needs of victims and survivors of the Troubles; to deliver a shared society governed by efficient and representative devolved institutions which co-operate to build on the all-island economy and to oversee investment and joint efforts in trade and tourism; to deliver political institutions that work to build a world-class infrastructure in order to provide high quality, citizen-centred services, such as an education system that promotes integration; and, in a phrase, to deliver the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement.

This is the vision the Government has set out for Northern Ireland and is working with all of the parties to achieve. The Government will continue to ensure that it discharges its commitments under the Stormont House Agreement, notably with regard to the setting up of the institutions dealing with the legacy of the past. The Government is also working closely with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice, as well as the British Government, to examine ways to further enhance measures for cracking down on the criminality and organised crime associated with the legacy of paramilitarism, particularly in the Border area.

The Government's commitment to North-South economic co-operation also remains a priority. The recently announced infrastructure and capital investment plan, with a dedicated section on North-South infrastructure, re-affirms the commitment of this Government to investing in infrastructure projects, such as the A5 Derry road and the restoration of the Ulster canal. All of these efforts are part of the Government's wider objective to fully implement the Good Friday Agreement, to protect the institutions and safeguard and build on the progress we have made since 1998 for the benefit of everybody on this island. The Irish Government, mindful of its role as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and conscious of its duty to the people of the island, will, therefore, spare no effort in providing support and encouragement for a successful outcome to the present talks. Conscious of the mandate I have received from the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron, I shall continue, with the support of the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, to work intensively with the Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP, and the five Northern Ireland parties to the end of reaching a satisfactory conclusion to these talks that will, undoubtedly, chart the progress and the way forward for a better future for everybody on this island.

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