Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the residents of Ardoyne, Belfast on the issue of sectarian parades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30951/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Officials in the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat closely monitor the situation on the ground in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. They maintain regular contacts with political and community leaders, including representatives of the residents of Ardoyne, who work to manage and to resolve parade related difficulties and associated sectarian tensions at this time of year. Thanks to such community dialogue and local agreement, the vast majority of parades in Northern Ireland take place without incident.

In 2013, for example, the Parades Commission dealt with over 4,000 notifications of parades, of which 146 were contentious and required Parades Commission determinations. Successive Irish governments have consistently supported the Parades Commission in its challenging work of determining contentious parades. Until such time as new arrangements on parades are agreed and legislated for by the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Irish Government will remain fully supportive of the work of the Parades Commission.

I welcome the fact that the Twelfth of July parades in Northern Ireland have passed off peacefully this year and that there was no repeat of the violence which marred last year's parade in North Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), deserves great credit for policing the determination in relation to the Ardoyne parade and for the professional handling of all parades across Northern Ireland. I want to echo the Chief Constable George Hamilton's praise for the responsible attitude shown by all sides. I join with other political leaders in Northern Ireland in hoping that this responsible approach continues for the remainder of this year's marching season and that every effort is made to reduce sectarian tensions.

On coming into office last Friday, I spoke by phone with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, about the current situation in Northern Ireland and parades. We are both committed to meeting the challenges of building support for reconciliation and a shared society in Northern Ireland. The Irish government will continue to play its full part in promoting a comprehensive resolution to the parading issue in Northern Ireland.