Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he has had with the new Northern Secretary with regard to the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19330/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Mr. Peter Hain MP was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Westminster election in May. Shortly afterwards, I spoke to him by telephone to offer my congratulations and to arrange for an early meeting.

On 18 May I met Mr. Hain in Dublin. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland and to affirm our shared goal of securing the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We are in complete agreement on the need for an early and definitive response from the IRA and, in tandem, a real commitment by Unionism to inclusive partnership government.

I look forward to working closely with the Secretary of State in the same spirit of partnership that defined my working relationship with his predecessor, Paul Murphy. His previous political career will stand him in good stead for his new post and the challenging task ahead. We will meet again at the end of this month within the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. In the future, Mr. Hain and I intend to avail of all opportunities to engage with the political parties in order to move beyond the current political stalemate.