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

The Northern Ireland Party Leaders have individually acknowledged that there is broad agreement among the parties on the basic architecture for moving forward on the issues of flags, parades and dealing with the past. They are continuing to meet, including a meeting that took place on Tuesday, 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 in Northern Ireland 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.

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

In the Good Friday Agreement the parties affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community. As one of the key underlying values of the Agreement, respect for human rights remains a priority for this Government and is fundamental to informing our approach to furthering peace and reconciliation, and to supporting effective power-sharing government, in Northern Ireland.

As I remarked recently at the Institute for British Irish Studies Conference in UCD, I am concerned that there has been political drift from a number of the core values underlying the Agreement. Parity of esteem and respect for different cultures across Northern Ireland are key requirements for stability and growth. Human rights suffer where there is any ambivalence about respect and tolerance. All of society suffers where the power-sharing institutions do not act in accordance with their foundational ethos.

The Government has been clear in our discussions with politicians, business leaders and representatives of civil society about the importance with which we hold human rights. In particular, I have made clear that the introduction of a Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland, as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement, would provide an ethical framework through which contentious issues could be addressed in an agreed context of respect, tolerance and understanding. I continue to urge all the parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the British Government to engage in constructive discussions with a view to reaching agreement on the substance of a Bill of Rights.