Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the current state of the Northern Irish peace process and such recent talks as have taken place with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government; the proposals which the Irish Government has for breaking the current impasse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 42 together.

As joint guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, along with the British Government, we are committed to its full implementation. In the aftermath of the local and Westminster elections, I believe it is important to advance this vital project, to resolve the crisis of trust and confidence and move beyond the current political stalemate.

The Government's priority in the coming weeks and months is to encourage and facilitate the necessary definitive closure of paramilitarism and criminality. This requirement applies to all paramilitary organisations but IRA compliance is particularly important if there is to be any prospect of restoring inclusive devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. We now need the IRA to deliver a clear and decisive response.

As I said in a recent speech at UCD, "ifthe IRA is decisively removed from the equation . . ., and if that outcome is validated and verified by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and by the Independent Monitoring Commission, the Irish Government will expect the DUP to commit itself to inclusive power-sharing within the Assembly and the Executive and to fully work the North-South institutions of the Agreement".

The results of the elections have consolidated the leadership positions held by the DUP and Sinn Féin in the Unionist and Nationalist communities, respectively. There is a correspondingly increased responsibility on them to work to achieve the restoration of the institutions. At the same time, the SDLP, UUP and the Alliance Party continue to have considerable electoral mandates and have important roles to play. The Government is continuing with our contacts with all parties to move matters forward and, along with the Taoiseach, I met the SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, and a delegation from the party on 23 May.

We are also working in partnership with the British Government to continue to implement the Agreement, and a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place towards the end of this month. The conference will have a full agenda, including in the areas of justice and security, equality, and human rights.

We remain fully committed to the full and stable operation of all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement on an inclusive basis. That is what the people voted for when they solemnly endorsed the Agreement in referendums in both parts of the island.