Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I was disappointed to learn last week of the unionist parties’ withdrawal from the party leaders’ talks in Belfast following a decision of the Parades Commission. I would hope that this is only a temporary setback and that all the parties will return to the talks as early as possible. Dialogue is the only way to resolve contentious matters. Complex and sensitive issues - such as parades, flags and dealing with the legacy of the past - urgently require a comprehensive and structured framework.

The Irish Government believes that contentious parades are best resolved through meaningful and sustained dialogue at local level within a statutory framework. Without such dialogue and local agreement it must fall to the Parades Commission, which is the lawful authority in these matters, to make a determination on disputed parades. The Government fully supports the Parades Commission and the PSNI as they do a difficult job in demanding circumstances. I was heartened to hear political leaders across Northern Ireland also call for the Parades Commission’s decisions to be respected.

I spoke on Thursday 3 July with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, and we agreed it was important that the talks related to the above legacy issues resume as soon as possible. The Taoiseach also spoke with Prime Minister Cameron on Sunday 6 July. Both reiterated their support for the Northern Ireland institutions, underlined the importance of dialogue and agreed on the need for calm during the marching season. The Taoiseach also met SDLP and Sinn Féin delegations on Monday 7 July and spoke by phone to the leader of the Alliance party, David Ford.

This is a sensitive time and the autumn will be a crucial period for putting the talks process back on track and fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement.