Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the elements of the Good Friday Agreement that have not yet been fully implemented. [39932/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and all subsequent implementing Agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.

A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland is a central provision of the GFA that has not to date been implemented. The Government welcomes the fact that an Ad-Hoc Northern Ireland Assembly Committee has been established; the Committee published its research paper on the “Key Issues for a Bill of Rights” in March 2020, and launched a public consultation in May.

All parties to the GFA recognised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, which in Northern Ireland includes the Irish language, Ulster-Scots and the languages of the various ethnic communities. Progress has been made regarding the Government’s commitments within the New Decade New Approach (NDNA), including the allocation of: €3m as part of the commitment in Budget 2021 for Irish language broadcasting; €1.8m over three years (2020-22) to support the Irish language in Northern Ireland; and an All Island expansion of the existing Irish Language Network strategy. It is important that the language and identity provisions agreed in the New Decade New Approach Agreement are progressed as agreed, alongside all the commitments in that Agreement.

The Government continues to engage with the Northern Irish Executive in order to establish a Civic Forum in Northern Ireland, as provided for under Strand One of the GFA. In the NDNA agreement, it was agreed that the Compact Civic Advisory Panel would be reformed to propose the most appropriate model for civic engagement on specific issues.

The Government continues to support the establishment of the North South Consultative Forum, as provided for under Strand Two of the GFA, and has worked to move the issue forward, submitting proposals to the Northern Ireland Executive for its consideration. We have also raised the issue at successive plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.