Written answers

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Northern Ireland Issues

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to take any particular initiative in relation to the need to progress outstanding aspects of the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements including the establishment of a civic forum, the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the introduction of an Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8237/15]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The question of outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements was considered during the Stormont House talks. Throughout the talks, the Government maintained the view that the best way to strengthen peace and reconciliation across this island was to implement fully the commitments undertaken in these Agreements.

In relation to the Good Friday Agreement commitment on the establishment of a consultative Civic Forum in Northern Ireland, the Government advanced the position during the Stormont House talks that greater civic engagement would stimulate informed public debate in Northern Ireland in relation to key societal challenges. I welcome that the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a civic advisory panel to meet regularly on key social, cultural and economic issues and to advise the Northern Ireland Executive. Proposals for a civic advisory panel in Northern Ireland are currently being prepared for consideration. The ultimate objective is for the first meeting of the panel to take place in June 2015.

Notwithstanding that it was included in a paper tabled by the Government at the outset of the Stormont House talks, I was disappointed that a commitment to an Irish Language Act, either enacted in Westminster or the Northern Ireland Assembly, did not form part of the final Agreement. I welcome, however, the explicit endorsement in the Agreement by the British Government of the principle of respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.

I particularly welcome the recent public consultation announced by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure on an Irish Language Bill, which will run until 5 May. This follows the Minister’s recent publication of a “Strategy to Enhance and Protect the Development of the Irish Language 2015-2035”, as well as a similar Strategy for Ulster-Scots. The Strategies set out roadmaps for the Irish Language, and for the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture, over the next 20 years in a range of areas such as education, public services, the community and the media.

While the Government would have wished to see the establishment of a North South Consultative Forum and a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the necessary enabling consensus was not forthcoming during the Stormont House talks.

The Government will avail of other opportunities to secure progress on these outstanding issues. We will also continue our broader efforts to ensure that the full potential of the Agreements is realised towards achieving effective partnership government, genuine reconciliation between divided communities and economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.

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