Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up to date position on the all-party talks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37018/15]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts his Department is making to stabilise the current instability in the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31712/15]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's plans to rebuild trust between the five political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32849/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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321. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the establishment of a timeframed inclusive process of negotiations to resolve the outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements, and the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32902/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has agreed an approach with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, for renewed negotiations to resolve outstanding issues arising from the Stormont House Agreement, the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements, and current difficulties in the political and peace process in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32906/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 319 to 322, inclusive, together.

Following the request by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron, I and my colleague Minister of State Sherlock, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, facilitated a return of all the five main parties in Northern Ireland to round table talks. These talks resumed in round table format on 21 September and are continuing in a constructive atmosphere. I believe that there remains a willingness on all sides to solve the issues around the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and dealing with the legacy and impact of paramilitarism.

In an effort to facilitate inclusive talks, the Secretary of State announced a British Government assessment of the current profile of paramilitarism in Northern Ireland. That assessment, published earlier this week, makes for sobering reading. While acknowledging that these paramilitary organisations no longer represent a terrorist threat, it nonetheless presents a complex and challenging profile of unacceptable residual activities by various groups in Northern Ireland which are damaging to communities and which must be addressed. It underscores the critical importance of the political Talks process currently underway in Northern Ireland and I hope that a shared determination to address the legacy of paramilitarism will result in increased momentum in the negotiations.

Of equal importance in the talks is the need to fully implement the Stormont House Agreement. This agreement, concluded in December 2014, offers a blueprint for overcoming current difficulties in the Executive, especially around financing, welfare reform and dealing with the legacy of the past. While financing and welfare reform is primarily an issue for the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, I have continually encouraged the parties to resolve their difference for the sake of Northern Ireland’s economic stability and the sustainability of public services.

It is also crucial that the work started by the Stormont House Agreement on establishing institutions to deal with the legacy of the past is completed so that justice and truth can bring what healing is possible to victims and survivors of the troubles and their families. My officials and I are working intensively with the Secretary of State, the Northern Ireland Office, and the Northern Ireland political parties to ensure the rapid establishment of these institutions, including the Independent Commission for Information Retrieval, the Historical Investigations Unit and the Implementation and Reconciliation Group.

A successful outcome to the talks, which will respect and protect the Good Friday Agreement and its power sharing institutions, is a crucial priority for the Government. We work constantly in support of its full implementation and look to the parties in the Executive to do the same, especially in those areas where responsibility is fully devolved.

In the immediate term, it is essential that all of the five main parties in Northern Ireland, with the support of the two Governments, urgently advance the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and address the impact and legacy of continuing paramilitary activity. I remain hopeful that, with committed collective engagement, we can make real progress on both of these critical issues. An agreed outcome would be an important step forward - not just for politics but for the further normalisation of society in Northern Ireland.