Written answers

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Northern Ireland Issues

Photo of Robert DowdsRobert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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87. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he last met the British Prime Minister, David Cameron; the extent to which he made him aware of the destabilising impact of marches and violence in Northern Ireland; if the British Prime Minister and his Cabinet issued any response to these problems. [41829/13]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP about the overall situation in Northern Ireland including contentious marches and the threat of violence. Over recent weeks, I met with all of the party leaders in the Executive and with the British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP as well as with the Independent Chair of the Panel of Parties, Dr. Richard Haass, to discuss ways forward. I have also visited the interface areas in Ardoyne, Carrick Hill and Short Strand and was briefed by the Apprentice Boys and the PSNI in Derry about their assessment of the situation. As the Deputy will know from his recent visit to Belfast, the threats posed by dissident groups are undoubtedly serious. Since 2009, a series of violent attacks by these dissident groups have taken place, resulting in injuries and in the deaths of two British Army personnel, two PSNI officers and a member of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, David Black, in a brutal attack just a year ago. I know that all members of this House unreservedly condemn these acts and support the Garda Síochána and the PSNI in their efforts to overcome the dissident threat.

Over the last year there have been serious public order disturbances in Belfast. Some reputational damage was certainly caused by extensive international media coverage of the violence in Belfast following the 12th of July parades and the so called anti-internment march organised by dissidents in August. I condemn all such violence and the disregard for the rule of law which has been shown. The Police Service of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland has our highest admiration for the professionalism they have shown in the face of provocation from dissident loyalism and dissident republicanism marching on the street of Belfast over the summer.

The Parades Commission has worked hard to find solutions to contentious parades and their legally binding decisions should command respect from the political leadership of Northern Ireland as well as in the community. Anything less than wholehearted support for the rule of law and for the Police Service of Northern Ireland damages peace and stability and is a matter of the most serious concern to the Irish government.

As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish and British Governments urge the political parties in Northern Ireland to grasp the opportunity offered by the Haas talks. Political leadership is essential if we are to prevent further damage to community relations and to build support for the rule of law, the PSNI and to secure stability and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.

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