Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expand on the plans of the British and Irish Governments in the event of the parties in Northern Ireland failing to agree to power sharing institutions by the end of March 2007; the precise nature of the proposed British/Irish partnership arrangements; the status of the North/South bodies in this event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since the beginning of last year, significant progress has been made towards securing the Government's overriding priority — the restoration of power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

The St. Andrews Agreement, published by the two Governments on 13 October 2006, sets out a clear way forward for all parties to commit to the full operation of stable power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and to full support for policing and the criminal justice institutions. We are convinced that if implemented in good faith by the parties, it will clear the way for the restoration of the devolved institutions on 26 March 2007.

There has been important progress in that regard since we met with the parties at St. Andrews. Practical changes to the operation of the institutions on restoration have been agreed. Both Governments have announced financial packages to help underpin restoration and there has been progress across a range of equality, human rights, victims and social exclusion issues.

Furthermore, the recently published IMC Report confirms that the decision of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis on policing on 28 January contains all the necessary elements of support for policing and criminal justice set out in the St. Andrews Agreement. This landmark step, together with the subsequent statements by the Sinn Féin leadership, opens up the prospect for the first time of inclusive policing across the entire community.

Our primary focus now is to ensure that all of these positive developments can be built on through the restoration of shared accountable government, consistent with the St. Andrews Agreement. We will spare no effort to achieving that objective by 26 March. The Assembly election due to be held on 7 March is an integral part of the process and timetable agreed at St. Andrews. It is being held for the explicit purpose of endorsing the St. Andrews Agreement and of electing an Assembly that will form a power-sharing Executive on 26 March in accordance with that Agreement and timeframe.

However, in the event the parties fail to agree to share power by that date and consistent with the St Andrews Agreement, new British-Irish partnership arrangements have been prepared jointly with the British Government. The Taoiseach and I reviewed developments in this regard when we met with Secretary of State Peter Hain in Cardiff on 4 February to discuss the implementation of the St. Andrews Agreement. Our officials also continue to keep the matter under review.

The partnership arrangements would ensure the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement to the fullest extent possible, and in a manner which assures that the rights and interests of all in Northern Ireland and on these islands are fully protected and respected. This would also include advancing North/South co-operation for the benefit of all. The North/South Bodies, established under the Good Friday Agreement, play a crucial part in delivering the benefits of such co-operation.

The new partnership arrangements have been prepared in the event they are required. However, we have made clear that this is not our preferred outcome. After four years of suspension, the people of Northern Ireland are entitled to see devolved government restored and their elected representatives working actively and openly for them in a fully restored Assembly and shared Government