Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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158. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Ulster Unionist Party leader that he had assurances that the Irish Government would have no role in negotiations on internal Northern Ireland affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40813/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The British and Irish Governments convened the current talks in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal in Northern Ireland.

We convened these talks as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. It is on that basis that we participate in them, taking account of the three Strands outlined in the Good Friday Agreement. Our responsibility is to ensure that the Agreements, and effective partnership government which is at the heart of the Agreements, work for the benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland. A more reconciled and prosperous Northern Ireland is good for the people of the North but is also of enormous direct importance and benefit to people right across this island.

Agreement on the issues at hand can, of course, only be reached by the parties themselves. However, in our roles as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements, the two Governments have an important role to play in encouraging and facilitating such agreement.