Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 26 together. I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for tabling his question.

It is deeply disappointing that almost 18 months on from the last assembly elections, Northern Ireland's political institutions remain blocked, and as a result the North-South Ministerial Council is also prevented from fulfilling the responsibilities mandated to it by the Good Friday Agreement. It is past time that the democratically elected representatives of Northern Ireland were allowed to take up their responsibilities and deliver for their constituents on the range of pressing challenges facing them. 

I and the Government are working urgently to support a return of the institutions. I remain in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties and have urged all representatives to allow for the restoration of the institutions. The recent British-Irish Association conference in Oxford, on 1 and 2 September, was a useful opportunity to exchange views with the Secretary of State and others present. Over recent months I have allowed space and time for the DUP to engage directly with the British Government, but I must be clear that the current situation cannot continue indefinitely.

People in Northern Ireland continue to be adversely affected by intersecting crises in public finances, the cost of living and health services. All of this points to the urgent need for those elected to take office to assume their responsibilities. The absence of a functioning Executive also has knock-on effects on the operation of strand two of the agreement. In the absence of regular meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council, the two Administrations on the island are not having the important conversations we should be having to address shared challenges and opportunities. It is vital the council is allowed to continue its work as soon as possible. 

The Government is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and that is a responsibility I take seriously.  I will continue to work to secure the effective functioning of all of the strands of the Good Friday Agreement.

See this speech in context