Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under Dr Haass’ chairmanship of the Panel of Parties talks, the Northern Ireland parties made enormous progress in seeking an agreed approach to dealing with flags, parades and the past. Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan consulted widely across society in Northern Ireland last year and brought to the table a clear message from the people that they want to see the party leaders finding new, comprehensive and credible ways of dealing with legacy issues. I agree with Dr Haass’s assessment that there is deep and wide public support for these issues to be dealt with in a comprehensive way. I have witnessed this at first hand during my visits to the North. The Northern Ireland Party Leaders have individually acknowledged that there is broad agreement among the parties on the basic architecture for moving forward on each issue. They are continuing to meet, including a meeting scheduled to take place today, with a view to closing the remaining gaps between them and for developing the practical mechanisms and related timeframe for implementation.

It is in the best interests of Northern Ireland that agreement is reached now. It is particularly important in advance of the marching season and the summer recess that politics is seen to be working in the best interests of all communities in the North. There have been several instances over recent months where the legacy of the past has seriously disrupted political and community life in Northern Ireland. It is clear from my contacts with business leaders that they are concerned at the broader economic and social consequences of the lack of political progress in recent months in addressing these legacy issues.

In Washington DC last week, I heard genuine concern being expressed by political, business and community leaders on the need for progress in the Party Leaders talks, which the United States government regards as very important in themselves, and which they recognise are also hampering progress and decision-making across a broad range of Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly business.

In my ongoing meetings and contacts with the Party Leaders and the Secretary of State, most recently on 9 June in Belfast, I have stressed the importance of securing an agreement on the outstanding issues. I underlined that the people of Northern Ireland expect politics to deliver tangible outcomes that improve their lives. I remain committed to doing everything possible in the time ahead to ensure that real progress is achieved. As I said yesterday on the occasion of the award of the Tipperary Peace Prize to Dr Haass, his work last year represents a solid foundation for the agreement that Northern Ireland’s leaders must deliver.