Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13105/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Full and timely implementation of the Stormont House Agreement 2014, and indeed the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015, is a key focus for the Government, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government.

A quarterly review process established under the Stormont House Agreement, and now also taking account of commitments under the Fresh Start Agreement, tracks progress on the implementation of these agreements. These meetings are led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I, along with the political parties in Northern Ireland.

The last such review meeting was held on 14 January 2016 and, following the completion of the electoral cycle in Northern Ireland, the next meeting is currently being scheduled.

Implementation of a number of aspects of the Stormont House Agreement have proceeded over the last two years. On budgetary issues, the Fresh Start Agreement facilitated a comprehensive resolution which took in a number elements set out in the Stormont House Agreement. In addition the recently-elected Assembly and newly-formed Executive are operating on the basis of the institutional reforms provided for under the Stormont House Agreement, including a formal opposition. I understand that preparatory work has been advanced by the Executive on the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition and I look forward to it being established at an early stage.

The establishment of the institutional framework on the past agreed at Stormont House has yet to be implemented. Significant progress was made on this in the all-party talks last autumn that produced the Fresh Start Agreement, although ultimately final agreement could not be reached on legacy issues, a situation which I found extremely disappointing.

Over the last number of months, I tasked my officials with holding consultations with a range of victims’ groups from across the affected communities, to hear their perspectives on how best to establish legacy institutions and to listen to their views on possible solutions to outstanding issues. These consultations proved very valuable and will inform our approach to seeking an agreement on addressing the legacy issues.

Following the Assembly elections in Northern Ireland in May, I have been in a position to engage further on this important issue, including during visits to Belfast and Derry over the last two weeks, where I had discussions about how we might reach a final political agreement on the detail of the establishment of these institutions.

I will be actively engaging with the political parties in Northern Ireland and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the weeks ahead with a view to securing an agreement on dealing with the legacy of the past which is so vital both for individual victims and survivors and for society as a whole.