Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1180. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions held to date with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State regarding the present difficulties in the working of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32255/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1181. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions he has had with the five Executive Parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the serious difficulties in the workings of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32256/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1182. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has put forward at meetings with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and with the Political Parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the urgent need to resolve the issues impeding the work of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32257/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1183. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the Government's role as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, if he will outline the proposals that have been put forward to help bring an immediate end to the impasse that has arisen in the workings of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32258/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 to 1183, inclusive, together.

I, together with my colleague Minister of State Sherlock, have been working closely with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the five main political parties with a view to finding a way through the current serious political impasse which is impacting on the operation of the devolved Institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Government’s position is clear. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement our overarching priority is to ensure its full implementation and to safeguard its institutions so that they can operate effectively and deliver for the people of this island. This remains the best prospect for lasting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

The functioning of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland is increasingly precarious. Time is running out for the critical issues to be resolved and collapse of the Executive and Assembly averted.

It was in this context that the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron called for all-party talks to be convened on Tuesday 8 September.

These talks chaired by Secretary of State Villiers and I are focusing on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and the impact and legacy of paramilitary activity. After an initially positive start, external developments, including those relating to the ongoing investigation into the murder of Mr. Kevin McGuigan, impacted on unionist engagement with the talks.

There followed an intense few days of bilateral and trilateral meetings by both Governments with the aim of getting all parties back into inclusive substantive talks. I am pleased to say that these efforts have been successful and talks in round table format resumed on Monday 21 September.

At this stage in the process it is too early to speak about particular proposals which the Government might make. Our focus for the coming weeks will be to support and assist the parties as they urgently get down to the serious business of fully implementing the Stormont House Agreement and addressing the impact and legacy of continuing paramilitary activity.

An agreed outcome on these issues would be an important step forward - not just for politics on this island - but for the further normalisation of society in Northern Ireland and I appreciate the Deputy’s continuing support in working to achieve this.