Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of talks to restart the Executive in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21233/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government.

On 26 April, the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach agreed to establish a new process of political talks, involving the five main parties, together with the British and Irish Governments. On 7 May, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I convened these talks in Belfast. The objective of this short, focussed process is to seek to quickly re-establish to full operation the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement - the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council.

There has been constructive engagement by party leaders and party representatives and this will need to be maintained over the coming weeks, to rise to the challenge of finding an agreement.

The Secretary of State and I participated in a further meeting with party leaders at Stormont House on Tuesday 14 May, and we will meet with the party leaders again next week, to seek progress on the issues which need to be resolved in order to get an agreement on operating the devolved power-sharing institutions again.

The awful killing of Lyra McKee and the outpouring of public feeling that followed demands a serious response at political level. People want to see real progress made. There is no patience for anything except urgent and determined progress.

Ultimately the challenge is for the parties to find an agreement. This will be difficult, but the two Governments believe that this can, and must, be achieved.

The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach will review progress in the talks by the end of May and consider any necessary further steps.

The devolved institutions of the Agreement are urgently needed so that the Assembly and power-sharing Executive can represent the interests of all of the people of Northern Ireland and address issues of concern. There are pressing decisions and issues across a range of areas, which require a functioning Executive and Assembly. The North South Ministerial Council is also essential to oversee and develop North South cooperation on matters of mutual interest, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement.

The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions.