Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the appropriateness of the planned visit by senior members of the Government to the President of the United States of America in view of the recent positions taken by the US President on immigration, human rights, foreign affairs and other issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8764/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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59. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had or is planning any discussions with the Taoiseach on issues that he should raise when he visits the White House in March 2017; if these issues include changes to US foreign policy with regards to Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8769/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 59 together.

The US President has extended an invitation to the Taoiseach to visit the White House for the traditional St Patrick’s Day events this March. Similarly, Vice-President Pence has said that he would be happy to continue the tradition of hosting a St Patrick’s Day breakfast at the US Naval Observatory, while Speaker Paul Ryan has confirmed his intention of hosting the traditional Friends of Ireland lunch on Capitol Hill.

Collectively, the St. Patrick’s Day events in Washington provide invaluable opportunities for the Government to discuss, at the very highest levels with the US Administration, our priorities and concerns. It is also an opportunity to inform the new Administration and Congress of issues of particular Irish interest, including immigration reform in the United States and the continuing need for vigilance on the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.

In our multifaceted bilateral relations with the United States, St Patrick’s Day-related engagements represent a key annual opportunity to pursue Ireland’s interests and concerns with the US Administration. The events surrounding St. Patrick’s Day also offer us the chance to reaffirm our longstanding relationship with a broad array of US stakeholders, based on shared values of democracy and the rule of law, as well as economic and historic ties.

Whether or not the Middle East Peace Process features in those discussions will depend on developments between now and then. While President Trump has made clear his preference for moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, his Administration has stated that it is studying the issue before making any announcement. I also noted the President’s comments following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is unclear what these comments may mean in practice. I and my Department follow these issues closely and will continue to do so.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the issue of unlawful killings in Northern Ireland during the Troubles with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8604/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I discussed legacy issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when we met in Dublin on 30 January, following on from detailed engagement with him on these matters at previous bilateral meetings.

In my discussions, both with the Secretary of State and with the political parties in Northern Ireland, I have made consistently clear that the rule of law, including the requirement for effective investigations of unlawful killings, irrespective of who the perpetrators might be, must be upheld. This is reflected in the principles agreed to by all parties in the Stormont House Agreement of 2014, for dealing with the legacy of the past.

The Government remains strongly committed to the establishment of the architecture for dealing with the legacy of the past that is provided for in the Stormont House Agreement. This system provides a framework for dealing comprehensively with the legacy of the past in a way that can bring whatever healing is possible to those affected by the Troubles.

An effective and adequately resourced inquest system is an essential part of the system to provide for effective investigations into deaths during the Troubles, and this requirement is also recognised in the Stormont House Agreement.

I am fully supportive of the proposals that were made by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in February 2016. In my engagement with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland, I have underlined the need to adequately resource the inquests system as proposed by the Lord Chief Justice, so that it can operate effectively and investigate outstanding legacy cases from the Troubles.

I have also emphasised the right under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights to an effective investigation, which is a sovereign obligation that must be upheld by all responsible authorities. In December 2016, I directed that Ireland advocate at the Council of Europe on the urgent need for progress on legacy issues in Northern Ireland, including a properly resourced legacy inquests system, so that the long-outstanding investigations can finally proceed in a manner that is compliant with Article 2 of the Convention.

I will continue to engage with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland, as appropriate, to support the implementation of the Lord Chief Justice’s proposals on legacy inquests and the establishment of the legacy institutions provided for under the Stormont House Agreement, as soon as possible. The formation of a new power-sharing Executive following the election to be held on 2 March will, I hope, contribute to progress on these issues.