Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a report on the meetings he had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, and with the Northern Ireland Executive, on 29 June 2016; if he is concerned that the democratic wishes of persons in Northern Ireland as outlined in the recent European Union membership referendum are not being respected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19797/16]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We all know how damaging Britain leaving the EU will be to Ireland, especially because we may now see a hard Border on the island. Tá a fhios agam go raibh an tAire i mBéal Feirste Dé Céadaoin agus gur chas sé leis an Rúnaí Stáit agus le comh-Airí na Céad-Aireachta. Tá a fhios agam freisin go raibh cruinniú den Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas ann inné. I know there was a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council and that the Minister was in Belfast on Wednesday for meetings with leaders of the parties and members of the Executive. Can he provide this House with a report on these discussions, particularly on the question of respecting and defending the decision of Northern citizens to stay in the EU?

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

Last Wednesday, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I convened a quarterly review meeting of the Fresh Start and Stormont House agreements. The First and Deputy First Minister represented the Executive, as did the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice. As well as the review meeting, I held separate bilateral meetings with the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, the leader of the Alliance Party, David Ford, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. Naturally, the outcome of the UK referendum on the EU was a key element of each of these meetings. I took the opportunity to assure all those I met of the priority the Government attaches to the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the referendum. I emphasised the necessity and importance of working together in the best interests of the people on this island. I reiterated the Government's commitment to work in support of stability, reconciliation and prosperity in Northern Ireland. In this regard, the Government will use its influence with our EU partners to seek to persuade them of the need for specific arrangements which protect the key gains of the peace process on this island, a process to which the EU has already made a key contribution.

In addition, I outlined that the common travel area and cross-Border EU funding are key priorities for the Government in the period ahead.

I am very conscious of the deep concerns and anxiety that have arisen for many people across the community in Northern Ireland about the outcome of the referendum. The fact that the majority within Northern Ireland who voted to remain now face their preference being set aside as a result of the overall result across the United Kingdom raises profound and important issues.

In this regard, in my meeting with the Secretary of State, we agreed that the Good Friday Agreement would remain the foundation for the two Governments’ approach to Northern Ireland. The EU referendum result does not by any manner or means alter or diminish the centrality of the Good Friday Agreement or the requirement on both the British and Irish Governments to uphold it. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and succeeding agreements, the Irish Government remains determined that its institutions, values and principles, including the right to be British or Irish or both, will be fully protected.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The people of the North clearly voted to remain in the EU and that democratic vote must be respected. I know that my colleague the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, made it clear to the Minister and the Taoiseach that the Six Counties leaving the EU is not a done deal and should not be considered a forgone conclusion. Seasfaidh Sinn Féin an fód do chearta mhuintir an Tuaiscirt sa cheist seo.

I welcome that the Government, following a call from Sinn Féin, stated its intention to establish a national forum to discuss the impact of the EU referendum. It is unfortunate that the DUP leader, First Minister, Arlene Foster, has stated that she does not believe such an important forum is necessary. I believe that, if needs be, the forum should still go ahead without that Unionist representation from the DUP if needs be. Ní dóigh liom gur chóir go mbeadh cead ag an DUP veto a bheith acu. The DUP should not have a veto on that. The Irish Government has a responsibility to think nationally, not only in terms of the Twenty-six Counties but for the island of Ireland. As a co-equal guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish Government has a responsibility, to which the Minister referred, and it must be robust in asserting that. It is not just Sinn Féin or other parties here saying that. A robust, well articulated argument was made by Fintan O'Toole on the serious responsibilities the Irish Government has in upholding the manner in which the people in the North voted.

Will the Minister indicate whether the Government is still committed to a national forum? Will he act on behalf of all citizens to ensure that one part of Ireland does not end up outside the EU while the rest remains inside?

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

I stress again that the Government acknowledges the unique circumstance that is Northern Ireland and the unique circumstances that exist on the island of Ireland. These will remain our priorities in the context of our relationship with the United Kingdom as it prepares to withdraw from the European Union but, more particularly, our relationship with the European Union in the context of the forthcoming negotiations.

I did acknowledge this result and the majority vote in the context of my engagements with the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, and other political leaders. It is important that all stakeholders and all political leaders are involved in what will be a very exciting challenge, and the Government has a clear plan in place to deal with that.

The contingency framework maps the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in weeks, months and years ahead. We have already published a summary of key actions that will be taken to address the contingencies arising from the decision of the UK. I note the formation today of the European affairs committee and I was pleased to address a meeting of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence in the past two weeks. I note also the establishment of the committee on the Good Friday Agreement, which to my mind will have a specific task of ensuring that the issues on the island of Ireland are fully factored into the negotiated framework and process.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government could be more explicit in what it is saying regarding a forum on this matter and in terms of its exact position.

Since the vote, the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, has dismissed the democratic rights and mandate of the people of the North who voted to remain. Her first priority has largely been England's national interests, and the people of the North will always be a poor second. Will the Minister agree that, following the referendum, the Secretary of State has no legitimate claim to represent the best interests of the people in the North or to represent them in negotiations, and that her position is untenable?

In addition, is the Minister concerned that Michael Gove, on the basis of comments he has stood over about the Good Friday Agreement being a capitulation and his statement that the SAS and British Army undercover units should have been allowed to continue with shoot-to-kill policies in the North, represents a threat or potential damage to British-Irish relations and the status of the Good Friday Agreement?

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

At my meeting with the Secretary of State we agreed that, irrespective of the result or of any utterances that may have taken place in the course of the campaign by any political leader or otherwise, the Good Friday Agreement remains the foundation stone for the two Governments' approach to Northern Ireland. The result of the referendum does not in any way diminish the importance, centrality or legal basis of the Good Friday Agreement or the requirement on the part of both the British Government and the Irish Government to at all times uphold the letter and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. I was there in my capacity as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and succeeding agreements and I wish to impress upon the House that the Irish Government is determined that the institutions, the principles, the letter, the spirit and the values of the Good Friday Agreement remain central to our approach to any negotiations with our EU partners on the future of the island of Ireland.