Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Northern Ireland; when the Northern Executive will be in a position to fully resume its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34187/08]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had recent meetings with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly; if such a meeting discussed the ongoing impasse between the two major parties in Northern Ireland; his views on whether it is vital that the Assembly gets on with its job on behalf of all the people of Northern Ireland and through the cross-Border bodies, all the people of this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33994/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 30 together.

The Government is committed to the full implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement, including the effective operation of all the Institutions — the Northern Ireland Executive, the North-South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council. The Taoiseach and I have conveyed that message to the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and all the parties in recent meetings and conversations, including during my visit to Stormont on 18 September.

The Government is disappointed the Executive did not meet on Thursday, 2 October, and that this led to the postponement of the scheduled plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council the following day. A number of challenging issues face the Northern Ireland Executive, including the central question of devolution of policing and justice powers. It is the shared view of the Irish and British Governments that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly should take on this responsibility, as set out in the St. Andrews Agreement, and I look forward to an early agreement between the parties on this question. We believe it is time to complete the process of devolution.

The Government remains in close contact with the British Government and the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive and will continue to offer support and assistance to the parties as they work to find solutions to their current difficulties. I met Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward, yesterday evening to discuss the present situation, and our respective officials remain in close contact. It is vital, particularly in these challenging economic times, that the Executive gets down to business and works in a spirit of partnership and co-operation for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland. This will also facilitate the continuation of the work of the North-South Ministerial Council, which is in the interests of the island as a whole. I am hopeful that, working together, the parties can resolve the outstanding issues before them, as indicated by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister during their joint appearance before a Stormont Assembly committee last week.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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We all share the Minister's aspiration that the work of the Executive resumes and that the outstanding issues are resolved. Does he agree the failure of the Executive to meet over such a long period has the capacity to turn into a serious political problem? Does he further agree the different constructions put on the St. Andrews meeting have contributed to the problem? Will he indicate whether the Government, separately or jointly with the British Government, proposes to take an initiative to facilitate moving past this impasse?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy's proposition that this is a serious situation. The Executive has not met for three months, which, ultimately, has implications for people's confidence in the devolution process. Both Governments, therefore, are anxious that the Executive meets again and that devolution of policing and justice powers proceeds. I take the Deputy's point regarding the St. Andrews Agreement. People gained assurances from it but one can see that others did not sign up to the complete programme, including the justice dimension. There is a certain degree of ambiguity there but, on the other hand, the stated position of all parties is they favour devolution of policing and justice functions. The Democratic Unionist Party has stated it favours this. This revolves around timeframe and confidence issues. In other words, people are anxious that, prior to devolution of these functions, there should be confidence. The British and Irish Governments are clear these functions should be devolved and they support that. We would prefer if that happened sooner rather than later.

I met virtually all the parties on 18 September to assess their perspectives on this. The position of both Governments is the parties within the Executive should first and foremost endeavour to resolve this issue. Strand 1 is one of the three strands that affect our overall sets of relationships. The parties should have the flexibility and the capacity to resolve this and other issues attached to it, which have caused friction and disagreement within the Executive, and it is important that they do that.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The failure of the Executive to meet is giving room to splinter groups. If it were meeting and conducting normal business, it would send a clear message that the system was working and it would lead to mutual trust, which could allow for the justice and policing issue to be settled. This is a chicken and egg scenario and there is a significant need for the Minister, the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister to act quickly to make sure the Executive works and, through it, to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Otherwise, young people will get involved in situations we will all rue in the future.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is our desire that the Executive meets and both Governments have been in constant contact and have been in touch with the political parties, which are aware of our desire and our perspectives on this. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Brown have been in constant contact on this. The Taoiseach has been involved with the parties and he has taken calls and had discussions with the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. We will continue to be of help and we are anxious to enable the parties to come to an agreement on this and other issues that have held up the Executive meeting. I take on board the bona fide positions articulated by Opposition Members and I assure them we will do everything we can to enable the institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement to work effectively for the people.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Does the Minister share my frustration about the recent lack of movement and progress on policing and justice matters? People have been talking about this in recent weeks and they are frustrated by the lack of movement. Will the Minister and the Taoiseach use their influence to bang heads together to move the parties forward? I am concerned about complacency setting in. People should not become complacent just because there is an absence of violent conflict. Does the Minister agree that the majority on the island want the DUP to get on with the job instead of allowing dark forces to prevent progress?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are all anxious that the Executive meet. The House must acknowledge that all parties in Northern Ireland, including Sinn Féin and the DUP, have made tremendous strides to get to this point. Many have moved on a range of issues. We should never lose sight of the significant steps taken by all parties to having a devolved administration up and running on a power-sharing basis, with cross-community participation and so forth. It is a unique form of government. They have put so much work into this and shown great courage that it would be a tragedy to undermine it in any way. People must continue to consider the big picture. The problems are not insurmountable. In principle, all parties are supportive of the policy dimensions of policing and justice. It is a question of standing back, not getting hung up on specifics and saying they have moved a long way in ten years. It should not be risked because a vacuum would not be desirable. Others have reason to undermine the institutions and cause mischief and havoc, which must be avoided at all costs.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Does the Minister agree that, were the Irish Government to use part of its influence with the British Government to remove the stonewalling in some intelligence matters, including the previous activities of intelligence forces in Northern Ireland, it would contribute significantly? Does he agree that co-operation by those on Sinn Féin's side with the Garda and the PSNI in the Paul Quinn and Robert McCartney murder inquiries would have assisted? The external moral suasion of both Governments would help in both respects. The attitude of the British Government in refusing to reopen intelligence issues of the deepest concern on an all-island basis is not helpful.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have pursued many of these issues with the British Government, including inquiries into particular cases. On the broad political front, both Governments stand together regarding the impasse. From the beginning, our strong relationship has been a fundamental pillar of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.

Deputy Higgins referred to Sinn Féin. While we would have preferred to see better co-operation on some matters, particularly those identified by the Deputy, Sinn Féin delivered on its commitments to the PSNI, namely, participation in policing boards and anything asked of the party. To a certain extent, it moved its constituency with it in terms of the PSNI's acceptability and strength, which is important.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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It had the courage to leave the few behind also.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.