Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his endeavours with regard to the Northern peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24244/04]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have, together with the Taoiseach, met senior delegations from the DUP and Sinn Féin in Dublin on 30 September and 4 October respectively. In addition, I had a very useful meeting with the SDLP in Dundalk on 8 October. I will travel today to Hillsborough and Belfast for separate meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, and the Allianceparty.

All these contacts and engagements are focused on following up on the issues outstanding from the talks in Leeds Castle on 16 to 18 September. Together with the Taoiseach, I expect to maintain this intensive engagement in the days and weeks ahead with the objective of securing a comprehensive agreement that addresses all of the outstanding issues and facilitates an early restoration of the political institutions in Northern Ireland.