Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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383. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the United States administration the need to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4128/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government looks forward to working closely with President Biden and the new US Administration on our bilateral agenda, including in relation to Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement.

A longstanding commitment to peace on the island of Ireland continues to be felt strongly in the US. The Good Friday Agreement and the peace process in Northern Ireland are not simply an achievement of the Irish and British Governments and the political representatives of the people of Northern Ireland, but one to which successive US Administrations and Members of Congress have also contributed.

The role of the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland has been greatly valued by the Irish Government over many years. In that regard, I would like to express my appreciation and that of my Government colleagues for the work carried out by the outgoing US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney. We recognise his strong engagement on Northern Ireland issues, particularly in relation to protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process throughout the Brexit negotiation process and on issues relating to the ongoing work of embedding peace and reconciliation.

The appointment of a Special Envoy would be warmly welcomed by the Government. In any circumstances, the US will undoubtedly continue to play a vital role in supporting peace, stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland. I know that President Biden will continue to make an important contribution to this ongoing effort, as he has done consistently throughout his career to date, and that the United States will continue to stand in support of the Good Friday Agreement.

I look forward to engaging with the new US Administration at an early stage on these issues, as we work together for strengthened peace and reconciliation.