Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to the St. Andrews negotiations, he expects Sinn Féin to fully endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland and take their seats on the policing board in the near future; if the two Governments have insisted that both these steps are required for political progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34503/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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At St. Andrews, the two Governments agreed proposals in relation to the few issues which remained outstanding from previous negotiations, including the restoration of power-sharing institutions and support for policing and the rule of law. We believe that the St Andrews Agreement sets out clearly how these issues can be resolved with the necessary political will among the parties.

In the St. Andrews Agreement, the Governments reiterated our consistent position that support for policing and the rule of law should be extended to every part of the community. In our discussions, it was clear that all the parties, including Sinn Féin, share the objective of resolving the issue of policing. The Agreement is unequivocal on what is required in this area: "Every party must fully endorse the PSNI and the criminal justice system; they must actively encourage everyone in the community to cooperate fully with the PSNI in tackling crime; and they must actively support all the policing and justice institutions, including the Policing Board.

The Government, for its part, has taken every possible opportunity to encourage Sinn Féin to endorse the new policing arrangements, thereby ensuring that all communities in Northern Ireland are represented on the policing oversight institutions and have full access to the policing services provided by the PSNI.

Following the negotiations at St Andrews we have asked the parties to consult as appropriate, and to confirm their acceptance of the proposals by 10 November. We continue to urge all the parties to work towards agreement on any outstanding issues and are firmly of the view that there now exists the basis for securing the objective of full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.