Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the proposal to introduce a bill of rights in Northern Ireland as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement; the outcome of recent discussions with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, the First Minister, Ms Arlene Foster, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8786/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of our foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. Placing human rights at the heart of the peace process in Northern Ireland has helped to ensure the participation and trust of all communities. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles.

During the course of the Stormont House talks in late 2014, the Government advanced the view that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. Sufficient consensus amongst the Northern Ireland Executive Parties did not exist to take this forward within the context of the Stormont House Agreement. However, the final Agreement provided that the Parties commit to serving the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the obligations on government to promote equality and respect and to prevent discrimination.

The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and its successor Agreements must be implemented in full. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island. The Government will continue to work closely with the UK Government and with the power-sharing Executive in Belfast to ensure that the protection of human rights remains at the heart of civic life, politics and ongoing societal change in Northern Ireland.