Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in discussions with the British government in relation to implementing the recommendation of the Independent Reporting Commission regarding appointing an independent person to explore what a process of engagement and group transition might look like; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17766/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My question is on the progress made in discussions with the British Government in relation to implementing the recommendations of the Independent Reporting Commission regarding the appointment of an independent person to explore what a process of engagement and group transition might look like. As the Minister knows, progress on this is important.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has raised it previously. I do not want to outline what he knows already exists but for those who potentially do not, the commission was established under the Fresh Start agreement to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The commission has submitted six reports to the UK and Irish Governments to date, the most recent of which was last December. We have welcomed the reports. I have engaged with the commission while recognising the significant role it plays in highlighting the progress that has been made tackling residual paramilitarism in Northern Ireland but also highlighting what needs to be done. This is very much the next step in terms of trying to move even further in removing it completely from the communities in Northern Ireland. The Governments have discussed the analysis and the recommendations of the commission including through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Both Governments agreed to the commission's recommendation for the appointment of the independent person to engage and to report on the possible establishment of a formal process of comprehensive group transition and that it has the potential to make a positive contribution. My view is still very much the same, that is, this is a welcome recommendation and we should try to progress it. We are doing that. We are continuing our joint work to consider this recommendation and in fact at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to be held next Monday, when I will travel with the Tánaiste, this issue will be discussed again by the Tánaiste and me with the British Government. I am keen that progress will be achieved. I assure the Deputy that we are committed to continuing this constructive engagement with the commission, with the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of the work of the commission to tackle this issue. While I cannot report much more progress from when we met the last time, there is ongoing engagement between both jurisdictions. I hope that in Monday's meeting, we will be able to make more progress and that we will be able to give some sort of a definitive pathway or timeline to try to reach that point.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My concern is very simple. As they say in Irish, an rud a théann i bhfad, téann sé i bhfuaire. What goes on for a long time goes cold. We have an opportunity, if the opportunity is taken now. I appreciate that the delay is probably not on this side of the Irish Sea. The lack of an Executive was a challenge. I hope that when I ask this question the next time - if I get lucky on the oral answers again - that there will be significant progress. I would like to know whether there has been engagement with the Northern Ireland authorities about this idea since the Minister of Justice was appointed there, because it is radical, I accept that. From my knowledge of the situation, I believe there is a good chance it would bring, perhaps not ultimate success in every element, but certainly significant progress.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry that I cannot provide any greater clarity or report progress from when we discussed this before. I assure the Deputy that it is not off the agenda. It is very much being discussed. There has been a lot of back and forth between my Department, the Irish Government and the UK Government. Also there had been previous conversations with the Assembly in Northern Ireland. I have met my counterpart, the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland, Naomi Long, since she was reappointed to the Department of Justice and this will form part of the conversations that we are having moving forward. There are different views on this, as the Deputy knows, not just here and across the water but in Northern Ireland as well. It is important that as we progress this, we bring everybody with us if this is the direction we are going. It is making sure that to the Deputy's point, we have that constant engagement, that it does not go cold and that it does not get left on the side. That is not what is happening here. I hope that the Tánaiste and I will be in a position to give him a greater update following Monday's meeting.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I believe the Minister would agree with me that on the make up of the commission, there was an interest in the Government in an appointment, but there was also an appointment with the Executive from the British Government and so on, as well as a competent chair. They are all excellent people. Would the Minister agree they are the kind of people who come from different traditions but, having come to an agreed position, deserve to be taken very seriously by all sides? Would she also agree that this is like the person on the bicycle? If he or she gets slower and slower and eventually stops, he or she will come off the bicycle. In this case, matters may regress rather than go forward if the opportunity is not taken. I understand that the Minister cannot give much more of an answer because conversations are confidential but I look forward to her coming back to the Dáil or back to me personally with some good news in the near future. I really implore her in this regard because this is a historical opportunity to move forward.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I hope that we can come back with positive progress. On the Deputy's initial point, I cannot speak highly enough of the members of the commission and the work they do. I commend their commitment to removing violence from the communities in Northern Ireland but also their commitment to developing, enhancing and supporting communities that have been impacted for many years and working with all sides to get to that point. They are committed and dedicated and as the Deputy says, they come with no agenda other than to progress peace and stability in Northern Ireland. I thank them sincerely for that work. I assure the Deputy that their recommendations, not just this one but any recommendations they have made, are seriously considered and taken, based on the work that they have done. They are treated with the upmost respect and seriousness. That will continue. Hopefully we would be in a position to make some progress on this in a more public way in the near future.