Written answers

Thursday, 25 January 2018

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Northern Ireland

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with the new British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Karen Bradley, in London on 12 January 2018; if he drew her attention to the fact that the political institutions will only work if they are based on delivering equality, integrity and respect for all; and the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements are implemented in full. [3642/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of a new Executive, over many months.However, devolved power-sharing government can only operate on the basis of an agreement reached between the two largest parties, while the other parties represented in the Assembly also have a critical role to play here. I met with the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, in London on 12 January and in Belfast on 18 January. We discussed how both Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, can support the parties in resolving the outstanding issues and moving ahead to form a new Executive.

The Secretary of State and I agree that there remain challenges for the parties in reaching that agreement, but we also recognise the wish of each of the parties to see the devolved power-sharing institutions continuing to operate.

Northern Ireland has now been without a functioning devolved government for more than a year. This is not a position that can be sustained for much longer.

Secretary of State Bradley and I held a round of meetings with the parties at Stormont yesterday, commencing a further round of intensive engagement to secure the formation of a new Executive.

On the basis of this engagement with the parties yesterday and in view of the progress that has been made in discussions in various formats over recent months, I continue to believe that an agreement to form a new Executive can be achieved.

We all have a responsibility over the coming weeks to make every possible effort to secure the effective operation of the devolved power-sharing institutions.

Secretary of State Bradley and I will work in partnership to achieve this and spare no effort in seeking a return to devolved power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, which is at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Government has consistently affirmed our unwavering commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and our determination to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. The Government is also strongly committed to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, as reflected in the Programme for Partnership Government. It is through the operation of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement that the full implementation of the Agreement can be most effectively and comprehensively achieved.

The Taoiseach and I will therefore continue to engage with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland in the period immediately ahead to support the urgent formation of a new Executive by the mandated political parties.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.