Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the House on the Irish Government's engagement in Belfast with the Northern Irish parties and the British Government over the past number of weeks and to give consideration as to how all participants in the process can move on from here and ensure that a devolved power-sharing Government is reinstated and restarted at the earliest opportunity. The imperative, under the Good Friday Agreement, is an obligation on everybody to ensure that the devolved power-sharing institutions are established, running and operating for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland. The re-establishment of the institutions and the restoration of power sharing is in the interest of all the people in Northern Ireland.

I want to acknowledge in the House the sad passing of Martin McGuinness last week. I wish to extend my sympathies once again to his wife, Bernie, and to his family at this time of sadness. As I have said elsewhere, Martin McGuinness and I come from very different political traditions but in his embrace of the politics of peace and reconciliation, he made an immense personal contribution to that process, founded on the Good Friday Agreement. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.

As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have an important role to play in supporting the effective operation of the devolved institutions and in upholding both the letter and the spirit of the Agreement as a whole in the interest of all in Northern Ireland. Following the Assembly elections on 2 March, I spoke with party leaders in Northern Ireland and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP. The Taoiseach also spoke to the Prime Minister, Theresa May MP. Both Governments agreed that an intensive effort would be required by all, in accordance with their roles and responsibilities, in order to re-establish the power-sharing Executive.

To that end, on 6 March talks commenced in Stormont Castle, the headquarters of the Executive office. Two areas for immediate discussion were focused on, addressing outstanding issues including the implementation of past agreements and addressing the legacy of the past, and the formation of a new power-sharing Executive. Both parts of the discussions were understood and accepted by all involved as essential and interdependent. I spent much of the last three weeks participating in the talks in Stormont Castle on behalf of the Government. Officials from my Department were there for the entire duration, as well as their colleagues from the Department of the Taoiseach and senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality.

In the discussions all political parties showed a willingness to engage on the key issues. All five parties made a meaningful contribution and showed a serious intent in their engagement and the tone of the interaction was cordial and at all times respectful. In addition to the relevant routine governance issues relating to the establishment of the Executive, the talks also addressed more challenging matters arising from unimplemented commitments of previous agreements. They included such issues as the Irish language and a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. In spite of three weeks of intensive engagement in Belfast, it did not prove possible before Monday's deadline for the political parties in Northern Ireland to reach agreement on these issues nor on the establishment of a power-sharing Executive. This absence of agreement on the establishment of an Executive is extremely disappointing, most importantly for those across Northern Ireland who look to the Assembly and the Executive not only for representation but also for good governance. In this challenging context, it is important to reaffirm that the Good Friday Agreement remains the agreed template for the political process in Northern Ireland and the Government remains fully committed to ensuring its principles and provisions are fully respected. In this regard, we will be consulting closely with the British Government in the days and weeks ahead.

I acknowledge the positive engagement and courteous co-operation of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, who worked constructively with me during the course of the talks in recent weeks. While there may be areas where our perspectives differ, the two Governments are united in the objective of seeing effective devolved power-sharing government up and running in Northern Ireland that is consistent with the electoral mandates and in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. While it was disagreement on a number of key issues that precluded an overall agreement between the parties on forming a new Executive, I am confident that all parties are committed to the integrity of the devolved power-sharing institutions. These are a vital part of the interlocking institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement which also accommodate the wider North-South and east-west relationships. Effective operation of the North-South and east-west institutions is particularly crucial in the context of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The absence of agreement on establishing an Executive is deeply concerning in that it creates a vacuum in devolved government in Northern Ireland in the very week when the Article 50 notification is presented by the British Government to leave the European Union. This has profound consequences for the island of Ireland, to which as a Government we are facing up, as are individuals, businesses, groups and communities throughout Ireland, North and South. The Government’s all-island civic dialogue is also a central strand of our approach to preparing for and managing the impact of Brexit and further such consultative dialogue is planned in the days and weeks ahead.

The Government will continue to advocate very strongly for Northern Ireland's interests to be protected as we continue our preparations and get ready to commence our participation in EU-UK negotiations as a committed EU member state. However, there is and can be no substitute for an Executive speaking with one voice on these critical issues of crucial importance not only to Northern Ireland but also throughout the island of Ireland. In this context, I acknowledge that during the course of the recent talks there was a wide measure of agreement between the parties on the need for the Northern Ireland Executive to articulate a strong common position on Brexit. The North-South Ministerial Council has had a strong Brexit focus in the past year, working to identify impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies for the island arising from the United Kingdom's departure. Last November it agreed a detailed set of common principles to guide future work between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. I want this collaborative work to continue, but it can only do so following the formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's needs must also be articulated in London, as its negotiators prepare Brexit compromises. I also believe it will have a powerful impact on other EU leaders for them to hear directly from the leaders of Northern Ireland. This is best done by a cohesive and inclusive power-sharing Executive.

During the course of the last three weeks some encouraging progress was made in a number of areas. They include the preparation of a proposed budget for the Executive in Northern Ireland and a draft programme for government, but I specifically mention the work done in dealing with the painful legacy of the past. I am conscious that victims and survivors are long overdue some evidence of delivery on these matters and determined efforts were made during the past three weeks by the two Governments and the parties to further develop and agree the detail of how the Stormont House legacy bodies might be implemented. The Government remains committed to positive and proactive engagement with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland on the delivery of the Stormont House institutions and the reform proposals of the Lord Chief Justice on legacy inquests.

When it was clear that an agreement to form an Executive would not be reached, I held a further discussion on Monday morning in Belfast with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We agreed on the imperative of continued devolved power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, which is at the core of the political institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. I welcome the Secretary of State’s confirmation in the House of Commons yesterday that the British Government did not want to see a return to direct rule. It is important to be clear that there is no statutory provision at Westminster for direct rule, following its removal - supported by the Irish Government - as part of the St. Andrews Agreement more than ten years ago. Following the intensive discussions of recent weeks and despite the failure to meet Monday’s deadline, I remain firmly convinced that all parties in Northern Ireland wish to see the devolved institutions restored. The only route to that goal is through continuing respectful dialogue that recognises the need for honouring previous commitments and honourable compromise now.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who has statutory responsibility for the next steps has indicated that a short additional window of time may be available to find an agreed basis for the re-establishment of the Executive. In the immediate days ahead I expect to be in touch with him to finalise the details for these additional but finite discussions. In these urgent circumstances and with time in short supply, all concerned must redouble their efforts to achieve the re-establishment of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland which is so plainly in the interests of all citizens, not only those in Northern Ireland but also throughout the island of Ireland, having regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and other issues of national importance to us. The Government will continue to play its part in meeting its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement, encouraging others to meet theirs and seeking to facilitate a climate of compromise and accommodation that is always required if any negotiation is to be successful.

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