Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or with members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the proposed bill of rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54701/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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All Parties in this house will share my frustration at the lack of progress on a Bill of Rights. During my visits to Northern Ireland I have been struck by the level of interest amongst a broad swathe of civic society in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, which is a very important outstanding provision of the Good Friday Agreement. I believe that many of the contentious issues around culture and identity have rights at their core and progress on a Bill of Rights could provide a framework for the resolution of such issues. I am in ongoing regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland on issues related to full implementation of the Agreement, including a Bill of Rights, and will remain so.