Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he expects a conclusion to the Northern talks on the matters of flags, parades and the past; the involvement he has had in those talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45072/14]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is essential that progress is made without further delay with the issues that form part of the Haass talks, namely parades, flags, emblems and contending with the past. I hope the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP, will be able to report progress to both Governments, as once again there is a very tight timeline with a British general election due in the first half of next year. I welcome the fact that both Governments have become engaged in these talks over the past few months, as I stated consistently in this House before that the lack of engagement by both Governments at the time of the Haass talks was a missed opportunity.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Brendan Smith and his party for their encouragement, support and assistance on this issue. Since 16 October, discussions have been ongoing in the political talks in Northern Ireland convened by the Irish and British Governments. These talks bring together the Northern Ireland Executive parties and the two Governments to address several key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal. The talks are structured around four streams: budgetary and financial matters; legacy issues, namely, parades, flags and identity, as well as dealing with the past; institutional issues including the effective functioning of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive; outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.

The Irish Government’s interest in the talks is to ensure these agreements, and effective partnership government which is at the heart of them, work for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland and across this island. The talks are now in their seventh week. Since 16 October, I have been in Belfast for an intensive range of discussions on Wednesday and Thursday of each week, accompanied by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock. I travel there again this afternoon for a further series of meetings.

I have been encouraged by the constructive approach demonstrated by all parties to date in the talks. Productive discussions are taking place between the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive parties in a range of formats and across each of the talks’ streams. While encouraging progress has been made in several challenging areas, a good deal of work remains to be done if we are to bridge the gaps between the positions of the different parties. I do not underestimate the challenge involved.

It is clear the talks have now entered an important phase in which renewed and intensified efforts are required to achieve a comprehensive agreement. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, MP, and I will be reporting to the British Prime Minister and to the Taoiseach respectively on the state of play in the talks at the end of this week. I hope we will be in a position to report progress sufficient to maintain the engagement. I have said previously that it is my wish that these talks will be completed by the Christmas period.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response and wish everyone participating in the talks continued success. I welcome the fact he said discussions have been productive. I note, however, a significant amount of work has yet to be done. Hopefully, it will be concluded successfully.

There is an obvious need to reduce sectarianism in Northern Ireland and a need to promote reconciliation. Has the British Government given any indication that it will provide the necessary resources to support progress in this area that would be put in place following a successful conclusion to the talks? I have in my mind the needs of the victims and survivors of the conflict. Support for those people needs to be prioritised with appropriate support programmes put in place in communities.

On the broader subject of the work of reconciliation, is the Minister aware there is widespread concern among community groups about the critical shortfall in funding needed for them to continue their work? That work is very important in the most disadvantaged areas. I have had both written and verbal communications from community groups from both traditions which are concerned about the challenges facing them due to shortfalls in funding.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I accept Deputy Brendan Smith’s point about funding for community and victims groups. The issue of victims is centre stage at the current talks with particular reference to dealing with the past. Unless and until this issue is addressed, there will be lasting scars of a serious nature in society in Northern Ireland and, to an extent, across the island. A significant proportion of the efforts over the past several weeks has been dedicated to the complex and important question of dealing with the past and its legacy that would involve victims, their families, relatives and friends.

Some work has already been done on these issues. We are following up on the good work undertaken in the course of the Haass negotiations. Issues considered during these talks included the need to make available appropriately resourced services for victims and survivors. This would also involve the establishment of a historical investigations unit and an independent commission for information retrieval.

The Irish Government provides funding across a range of issues on the matter of peace and reconciliation. I am pleased that in the recent budget, in spite of the challenges therein contained, that this funding will continue.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The community groups appreciate the support given by successive Irish Governments in supporting their work. To build on the substantial and important progress achieved in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements, will the Minister agree it is essential to have progress on the outstanding aspects of the agreements? There is an onus on both Governments, as well as the Executive parties, to ensure progress on a range of issues. Will the Minister indicate to the House if there is any sign of progress in the re-establishment of the Civic Forum, the convening of the North-South consultative forum, the proposed Bill of rights, which needs to be agreed between the five Executive parties, and the Irish language Act? The recent comments of a DUP MP about the Irish language are utterly deplorable.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I expect to announce a further round of funding for reconciliation projects before the end of the year.

The Deputy referred to outstanding commitments in the agreements. He is right to point out that a number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement have yet to be fully implemented. He mentioned the establishment of the independent consultative forum which will be representative of civil society on the island. In this regard, the St. Andrews Agreement provided further that the Northern Ireland Executive would support the setting up of an independent North-South consultative forum. That issue has been raised by the Irish Government in the context of the most recent talks. Deputy Smith will also be aware that the Government of which he was a part submitted detailed proposals in September 2008 on the role, format and membership of that forum.

On the issue of the Irish Language Act, I agree with Deputy Smith's comments. This is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and in particular, of the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure. I regret that the principle as enshrined was not demonstrated in the recent comments by Mr. Gregory Campbell of the DUP. I deplore what were most unhelpful comments and recognise that they were deeply hurtful to many people across this island who are upset that our language was denigrated in such a way.