Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the legal mechanisms that exist to appeal or arbitrate breaches of the Good Friday Agreement by either co-guarantor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4127/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Good Friday Agreement was concluded on 10 April 1998 following talks between the political parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish and British Governments. The Agreement consists of two elements, the Multi-Party Agreement reached between the Northern Ireland political parties and the two Governments, and an agreement between the Irish and British Governments to which the Multi-Party Agreement is annexed. The latter is referred to as the British-Irish Agreement and it is an international agreement which has been registered with the United Nations.

Under the British-Irish Agreement, the two Governments affirmed their solemn commitment to support and, where appropriate, implement the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. Reflecting that solemn obligation, successive Irish and British Governments have worked together in partnership over the last 20 years - and continue to do so today - to secure the progressive implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the consolidation of peace, increasing prosperity and furthering of reconciliation across these neighbouring islands, which the Agreement has enabled.

The Multi-Party Agreement provides that the two Governments can convene the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to “promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments”. The Conference will keep under review the workings of the British-Irish Agreement and the machinery and institutions established thereunder. It further provides that all decisions of the Conference will be by agreement between the two Governments and that they will make determined efforts to resolve disagreements between them. Similarly, under Strand Three, the Multi-Party Agreement provides a mechanism for review where difficulties arise in relation to the institutions. Where difficulties arise which cut across the range of institutions, this review falls to the two Governments in consultation with the parties in the Assembly.

The Government looks forward to the continuation of the partnership approach with the British Government as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, so as to secure the effective operation of all of the institutions and the full implementation of the Agreement.