Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions that have been taken to implement the latest agreement reached between all parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Stormont House Agreement which will help to bring much needed stability to the workings of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The agreement averted the political collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive and impending financial suspension. As I said to the Minister previously, we need a continuous hands-on approach by the Government to ensure the agreement is implemented and that substantial progress is made in meeting other outstanding commitments made in previous agreements such as the Good Friday Agreement, the St. Andrews Agreement and the Hillsborough Agreement.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge his continued interest in this important matter. The Stormont House Agreement is a significant achievement that has the potential to restore effective partnership government in Northern Ireland. It also has the potential to advance genuine reconciliation between divided communities and progress economic prosperity for all. For its potential to be fully realised, it is vital that the provisions of the agreement are implemented effectively and expeditiously. This is a priority for the Government. I am pleased to inform the House that on 20 January the Government agreed to take all necessary steps to implement the agreement.

In the context of the agreement, the Government undertook a number of commitments, which will be an important focus of our work in the period ahead. They include the drafting of legislation, where necessary, on the establishment of new institutions to deal with the legacy of the past. In particular, legislation will be required to establish an independent commission on information retrieval which will enable victims and survivors to seek and receive information on the deaths of their loved ones. As regards financial aspects, the Government committed to the continuation of the annual provision of €2.7 million for the Department’s reconciliation fund, which supports community groups and voluntary organisations working to repair and build relations and trust across the community in Northern Ireland, and to improve relations between North and South and Ireland and Britain.

The Government also committed to a number of measures, which will contribute to economic renewal in Northern Ireland, as well as being beneficial to the all-island economy. They include £50 million sterling in financial support to complete the A5 road project in the north west and a commitment to further progress the north-west gateway initiative. The Government has fulfilled a commitment related to the agreement to allocate €5 million to the International Fund for Ireland to support its important work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties, including the Deputy's constituency.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's outline of what has been done to date. I hope the processes are also put in place to ensure the agreement is implemented through the workings of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and also with the co-operation of the British and Irish Governments. Will the Minister take into account the significant concerns that have been outlined by the SDLP about this agreement? Its members have stated that the concerns relate to the agreement being far too silent on very important issues, including the proposed bill of rights, which was a commitment in the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish language Act - Acht na Gaeilge - and the also the re-establishment of the civic forum. They also rightly point out the potential of further co-operation on a North-South and all-Ireland basis for economic development and the development of Irish society, encompassing the Thirty-two Counties. We must be conscious of the concerns expressed by a party which has been the bedrock of progress in Northern Ireland and the development of political institutions on all of the island. I hope the Minister can work with all other parties to ensure those concerns are addressed. The SDLP would not outline concerns as a means of political play-acting but rather from a genuine belief that the issues must be addressed in a more meaningful way. We need to have progress on those issues, which do not threaten anybody in Ireland.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the important role of all the parties in Northern Ireland towards reaching an effective agreement on the eve of Christmas Eve. The Deputy mentioned the SDLP and I acknowledge its role in the negotiations under the leadership of its chief negotiator, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell. Deputy Smith is right in that there are important issues that must be advanced, both in the context of the agreement and in areas where it was not possible on this occasion to reach a consensus. As is the case with participants in this or any talks, there were a number of issues that the Government wished to see progressed further but there was not sufficient consensus among the parties at this time to enable that consensus and include those matters in the agreement. However, the Government will avail of further opportunities to secure progress on a number of outstanding issues. That should not detract from a very successful conclusion to challenging and difficult talks over 12 weeks last autumn and winter.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. Will he outline the timeline for the establishment of the historical investigations unit? The Minister is aware of a number of issues that I have previously raised relating to the carnage which occurred on this side of the Border and which we must have referred to that commission. My understanding is these cannot be referred to the historical investigations unit unless they are cleared by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman. It is an area I would like to see the Minister address. There are particular tragedies in which so many lives were needlessly lost through paramilitary activity which led to the carnage involving innocent people. I hope the concerns of those families of victims, as well as survivors of these terrible atrocities, can be addressed. That must happen and I hope the Minister can progress some long-standing issues in that respect.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The implementation of all aspects of the agreement is the focus for early this year and beyond. As part of the efforts to ensure effective implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, I will attend a review meeting with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties in Belfast next week, at which our implementation timeline will be agreed. It will involve a level of legislation, including in this House, and in that regard I have contacted my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. There must be preparation of appropriate legislation to enable our engagement in the new institutions, and this has already commenced. It will be introduced to the Houses by the Minister for Justice and Equality in early course.

The Deputy mentioned the historical investigations unit. That will take some time to set up but there is a resolve on the part of all parties in Northern Ireland, the Executive and the British Government to ensure that both the historical investigations unit and the retrieval body will be established and set up at the earliest opportunity. I will keep the House fully informed of developments in this regard and I look forward to the Irish Government being committed fully to all aspects of the agreement where we have engagement and compliance responsibilities.