Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8341/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the Stormont House Agreement on 23 December last, I welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has had some meetings on its implementation. Its implementation should be treated with the utmost urgency. Can the Minister outline for us the legislative provisions that would have to be enacted through the Oireachtas and what progress is being made in that respect? Could the Minister also outline to us whether the British Government has started the legislative process, taking into account that it has gone into the electoral cycle? I am particularly concerned about the timeframe for the establishment of the historical inquiries unit, because further grief is caused to victims and families of victims every day that goes by that they do not get the truth about the loss of so many loved ones.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The focus of the Government is currently on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In this context, I represented the Government, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, at the first implementation and review meeting of the agreement in Belfast on 30 January last, at which a detailed implementation timeline was agreed. Both the British and Irish Governments, as well as the five Northern Ireland Executive party leaders, took part in this meeting. The timetable we agreed is ambitious, as the vision of the Stormont House Agreement demands, and will require sustained engagement and co-operation on all of our parts. I was pleased with the level of progress made during the first meeting. Good discussions were had across the areas we considered and I was particularly pleased about the positive momentum shown on the North-South area of work. The five parties demonstrated a clear willingness to get down to the work needed to make the agreement a reality, and this was reflected in the concrete detail contained in the implementation timeline.

Yesterday in Belfast, I represented the Government, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in institutional format. The First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, represented the Northern Ireland Executive. Our agenda included a report on possible new sectoral priorities for North-South co-operation, as provided for under the Agreement.

Overall, work on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement is progressing well and a second review meeting will take place in March. It will require, as Deputy Smith has said, an element of legislation in Westminster, in Stormont and here.

Our Government will be proposing legislation for consideration by the Oireachtas to facilitate the setting up of the independent commission on information retrieval, ICIR, a body which will enable victims and survivors to seek and privately receive information about the deaths of their loved ones, as per the terms of the agreement.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. Less than three weeks ago, Deputy Martin and I had meetings in Belfast with a number of groups. One of the issues that was particularly highlighted to us was the concern in regard to responsibility for parades being devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. There is a need for a strong Parades Commission. The first Parades Commission was strong and it did good work in very difficult circumstances at the time. I ask the Minister to outline to the House his views in regard to the devolution of responsibility for parades to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which, unfortunately, can be so contentious.

Another issue highlighted to me in Armagh no later than Friday evening was the total disregard for some aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. Some outstanding legal aspects of the agreement are not being implemented. I refer to the need to have the Civic Forum re-established. As the Minister knows, there is a commitment in the Stormont House Agreement to have a civic consultative body, whatever that entails, but one of the particular concerns, which I share with the broader community, is that the members of that forum will be chosen by the Office of the First Minister and the Office of the Deputy First Minister. Why would all the parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive not be involved in nominating people for participation in such a forum?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The important aspect with regard to the establishment of new bodies and forums of whatever shape is that they be balanced and that there be cross-community representation. As a result of our deliberations prior to signing the historical Stormont House Agreement, I am satisfied with regard to any new bodies that are established. I agree with Deputy Smith that the timeframes are very important. Any new bodies that are established must be representative of the community and seen to be both representative and balanced.

With particular reference to the parades issue, as raised by Deputy Smith, an agreed resolution to the sensitive parading issue in north Belfast is in the interests of all and everyone, not only in the region but throughout Northern Ireland. It is important that the Parades Commission be supported and actively so. I reiterate the support of the Irish Government towards the Parades Commission, which continues to have a very important role in parading issues across Northern Ireland.

At a recent meeting with Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, I raised the issue of parades, with particular reference to the situation in north Belfast. She updated me on her thinking with regard to how the current impasse on the issue might be addressed. I emphasised to her, as I do to the House this morning, that any successful initiative must enjoy the necessary cross-community support.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to give me an assurance that every effort will be made to ensure that the work of the historical inquiries unit will commence at the earliest possible time. I asked the Secretary of State and I ask the Minister now that no blockage be put in the way of the referral of particular incidents, carnage and loss of life to that historical inquiries unit, as it has to be approved by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

I previously raised in the House the terrible bombing and loss of life in Belturbet in my own county in December 1972. A formal request will be made to have that bombing incident and unfortunate loss of life on that evening put before the historical inquiries unit. I have made that request to the Secretary of State and I hope the Minister can support the request. I asked the Secretary of State that the British Government give a positive response to the unanimous requests of this House in 2008 and 2011 to provide access to files and papers relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974. This issue needs to be constantly pursued with the British Government, because families need to get the truth.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I accept the importance for victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict, including those in this jurisdiction, as referenced by Deputy Smith, of the fact that the Stormont House Agreement provides for a new and comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the past. In the agreement, the two Governments recognised that there are outstanding investigations into allegations on the matter of incidents related to the Troubles, including a number with a cross-Border dimension. As part of the framework on the past as set out in the agreement, it is proposed that people in both jurisdictions will have access to an independent commission on information retrieval which will enable them to seek and receive information about the death of their loved ones during the Troubles. The establishment of the ICIR will require legislation in this jurisdiction. I wish to assure Deputy Smith that I continue to raise the matter of the incidents. The ICIR and the historical investigations unit will present an opportunity to deal finally and comprehensively with the very vexed legacy of the Troubles, which is personal for so many thousands of people.