Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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409. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding proposed changes to the status and powers to the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36514/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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410. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has concerns about the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36515/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has concerns regarding the workings of the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35605/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 410 and 414 together.

Over the recent period, the Northern Ireland Executive has been faced with a number of challenges on which it has been difficult to find agreement. These include longstanding issues such as parades, flags and dealing with the past. It also includes more recent difficulties in relation to budgetary issues. The parties that comprise the Executive need to reach agreement on such issues to ensure the effective functioning of the Northern Ireland Executive into the future.

I am confident that the North’s political representatives will show the leadership needed to deliver comprehensive, fair and balanced solutions to the issues before them. This will require compromise and committed engagement to the talks process. The goal is to ensure that the North’s political institutions not only function, but flourish, to the benefit of all, as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement. I am of the view that all party talks involving the Governments are required at this time to overcome the current political impasse within the Northern Ireland Executive.

Over the period ahead, I will remain in close ongoing contact with the Northern Ireland parties and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as preparations for the talks process continue, including agreeing an agenda for the talks. We fully support partnership Government in Northern Ireland and will work with the political parties to facilitate the resolution of current difficulties and legacy issues.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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411. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met Secretary of State Villiers recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35658/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have kept in close contact with Secretary of State Villiers since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. We have spoken several times in recent weeks on a range of issues and I look forward to meeting her in Dublin later today. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, regular, close contact with our partners in the British Government is an important element of the Government’s approach to Northern Ireland.

Secretary of State Villiers and I both strongly believe that talks convened by the two Governments is the best way forward to dealing with the political difficulties and legacy issues in Northern Ireland. It is imperative that everything possible is done to overcome the current political impasse within the Northern Ireland Executive – including on the legacy issues of parades, flags and identity and dealing with the past.

Over the period ahead, I will remain in close ongoing contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the Northern Ireland parties over the period ahead as preparations for the talks process continue, including agreeing an agenda for the talks. The Government’s priority remains to ensure that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement function effectively to the benefit of all. We fully support partnership Government in Northern Ireland and will work with the political parties to facilitate the resolution of current difficulties and legacy issues.