Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding the actions he has taken to progress the completion of the Haass talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/14]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is most disappointing that there has not been a successful conclusion to the Haass talks, which concern issues of the utmost importance to the people of Northern Ireland and of all of this island. We need a satisfactory means of dealing with the contentious issues of parades, flags and contending with the past. Time is not on our side to reach a successful conclusion. The lack of a successful outcome will give further momentum to the very disappointing spate of dissident activity and the increase in the number of bombings that have unfortunately occurred recently in Northern Ireland.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government welcomes that the political talks on parades, flags and identity issues and dealing with the past have resumed following a break over the St. Patrick’s Day period. As the Tánaiste has said previously in this House, it was disappointing that the party leaders had not made more progress in their discussions before St. Patrick’s Day, following the substantial work done under the chairmanship of Dr. Richard Haass and Dr. Meghan O'Sullivan before the new year. It is regrettable that the Ulster Unionist Party, UUP, is not participating currently in these discussions which are focused on issues of genuine and great concern to so many people.

The Tánaiste met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on Monday of this week to discuss the talks and the support which both Governments are giving to the process. They are both firmly of the view that Northern Ireland urgently requires a new way forward on dealing with the past that can command public confidence. They agreed also that the early successful conclusion of the political talks represents the best opportunity to make progress across all three important areas of parades, flags and identity issues and dealing with the past. Maintaining the status quo in relation to these issues is not a feasible or satisfactory option for anyone. The Tánaiste has spoken recently with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and with the leaders of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, and the Alliance Party. All have confirmed to him their commitment to reaching a deal. There is an expectation now that they will deliver. These are all difficult issues with the potential to destabilise political and civic life in Northern Ireland if left unresolved.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

As the Tánaiste said at the Alliance Party conference in Belfast last week, the Northern Ireland Executive parties can count on the full support of both Governments as they carry this work forward. Getting the frameworks for peace and reconciliation right and fully functioning is important for stability and security. It is vital also that greater priority be given to setting the right conditions for economic growth and job creation, especially for young people. We all have a common interest in that. The Government wants to see an early agreement as we believe it is in the best interests of Northern Ireland, and the Tánaiste will continue to engage closely with the British Government and the Northern Irish parties over the coming weeks towards that end.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome the particular phraseology he used towards the end of his contribution when he said there is an expectation of delivery. We hope that can be achieved. My one concern, which I have reiterated in this House on numerous occasions, is that there does not seem to be the urgency attached to these talks that there needs to be. We missed the end of year deadline. St. Patrick's week should have been another milestone to try to reach conclusions. We are now into the European and local elections phase. After the end of May we will be into the parading season. None of those times is conducive to making progress on some contentious political issues. It is time for both Governments to take a more hands-on approach to these very important issues.

We must remember that both sovereign Governments are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We need to see progress on the issues concerning our entire island, be it the Downing Street Declaration, the Good Friday Agreement or the St. Andrews Agreement, all of which were driven very much by the leadership of both sovereign Governments. The issues to be concluded in the Haass talks are of extreme importance as well.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I can categorically assure him of the urgency and priority that is being given to the successful conclusion of these talks and negotiations. We are aware of the very difficult and dangerous backdrop to these discussions, to which the Deputy referred. We all know that since 2009 dissident and terrorist groups have now been responsible for the deaths of two British Army personnel, two PSNI officers and a member of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The ongoing threat posed by many of these groups is very dangerous. We are aware of the very positive backdrop that is to come from the State visit that is due to take place next week. I recounted in my earlier answer to the Deputy's question the level of engagement and contribution the Tánaiste has made to this issue in the past number of weeks alone through direct engagement with the leaders in Northern Ireland and direct engagement with the Government of the United Kingdom.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I want to reiterate my commendation of the work of the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Sinn Féin Party prior to the end of the year in making a genuine effort to reach agreement. It is most regrettable that the UUP has now withdrawn from those five-party talks. I believe that more urgency needs to be attached to this. If we have it in the back of our minds that progress cannot be made until after the European and local elections, then we will be into another season of marching with all its attendant problems. Could the minister of State give us a very clear commitment that the Government along with its co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the British Government, will give these talks that extra momentum and give the process leadership to ensure that these contentious issues are dealt with? We do not want to have a weekend such as the one we had in Lurgan very recently or increased dissident activity. We had all hoped that this was gone from our island. That trouble caused by a very small minority in Northern Ireland cannot be allowed to fester.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The key line in my earlier answer is that there is an expectation that all parties that are involved in this must and should deliver. It is crucial that momentum is maintained to deliver a prompt conclusion to these vital negotiations. I also want to acknowledge the role that all parties are playing in this and to articulate my regret that the UUP has withdrawn. I have already made clear the huge level of commitment and priority the Government places on a prompt conclusion of these negotiations. As I said, the Tánaiste has already engaged directly with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and with the leaders of the key parties in Northern Ireland and is maintaining his engagement with the Secretary of State, Ms Villiers, in regard to these negotiations. It is vital we allow all those who were involved directly within the framework to continue their work to deliver a prompt conclusion to these negotiations while underpinning throughout all of this the very strong commitment of both Governments to seeing a prompt and successful conclusion to these negotiations to ensure the dangers of the past can be averted for the future and to ensure all communities in Northern Ireland have the safe and secure future that everyone in this House wants to see happen.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy Crowe is not present, Question No. 2 cannot be taken.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We will proceed to Priority Question No. 3 in the name of Deputy Mick Wallace.