Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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90. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the commitment contained in the Good Friday Agreement that consideration would be given to the introduction of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if so, the response he has received. [3240/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement have not yet been fully implemented, including a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and the successor Agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The Agreements, and the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.

On a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the Government advanced the view during the 2014 Stormont House talks, that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. While there was not sufficient consensus to take this forward at that time, the final Agreement did provide 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; to promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding at every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and encourage shared and integrated education and housing, social inclusion, and in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life; and to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goals of reconciliation and economic renewal”.

The Stormont House Agreement providesfor regular review meetings with the participation of the Government, the British Government and the Executive party leaders. At the last two Review Meetings – most recently in December – I specifically raised the outstanding commitments references in the Stormont House Agreement – including on human rights - and suggested regular consideration of them at the Review meetings to ensure that they remain on the political agenda.

The Government recognises the importance of the human rights aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. This is reflected in my convening of a sectoral consultation on 13 February, as part of the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit, on the human rights aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. Human rights are central to the peace process and must be protected and sustained, regardless of the UK’s status in the EU.

The Government views as a solemn responsibility our role and mandate as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. The Government will continue to work with the British Government and the political parties to fulfil the full promise of the Good Friday Agreement and to advance political stability, reconciliation and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.