Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the most recent discussions he has had with parties in Northern Ireland regarding advancing a shared future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30791/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On 29 April 2013 I met with Secretary of State Villiers and with the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Belfast in quad formation. Separately, on the same date, I met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on North South Institutional matters. In both meetings, the then absence of an agreed strategy to provide a framework for a stable, shared society for the people of Northern Ireland was discussed.

I welcome, therefore, the publication on 23 May 2013 by the NI Executive of a new strategy 'Together: Building A United Community'. The publication of the strategy is an important acknowledgement of the ongoing blight of sectarianism across communities in Northern Ireland and recognition that building a shared society will require a comprehensive response across political, economic, civic and social life.

I welcome in particular the proposal to establish an All-Party Group, with an independent Chair from outside of the political parties, to consider and make recommendations on difficult matters including parades and protests; flags, symbols, emblems and related matters; and the past. I understand that progress is being made on this on an all-party basis and that the All-Party Group should be operational within the coming weeks.

Building relationships between divided communities takes time and sustained effort and will need to be at the core of the work of the NI Executive, NI Party Leaders and the NI Assembly for some time to come. The Government will continue to support all efforts by the Executive and political leaders in Northern Ireland to promote reconciliation. The priority now, in my discussions with the Parties in Northern Ireland, is to encourage and support them in implementing the Strategy and the work of the All-Party Group to its fullest extent, both in terms of promoting an ethos of respect and reconciliation and in implementing fully the individual practical proposals as set out in the Strategy.

I am particularly pleased that progress has been made in the draft Multi-Annual financial framework for a Peace Programme which I believe will play a critical role in supporting this Strategy. The Government will also continue to support reconciliation in other ways, including through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds, which provide grants to organisations involved in reconciliation work on a cross-community and cross-border basis. We will also continue to support commemorative initiatives and events in Northern Ireland which foster reconciliation and mutual understanding among the different communities on the island.

We are committed to advancing all aspects of North South relations in close cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive and to developing an ever-deeper partnership with the British Government. In respect of each of these levels of engagement, the work of my Department and across Government is informed by a common purpose of contributing to building united, reconciled and prosperous communities across this island.