Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of engagement with the UK Government on the announcement of the resignation of the First Minister of Northern Ireland; the measures being taken to ensure continuation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and any impact that a change of leadership could have on the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24208/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The selection of a new party leader is a matter for the DUP, and it will be for the party's new leadership to put forward its nominee to serve as the new First Minister. In any scenario, we will of course continue to seek to have a good and constructive relationship with the DUP and all the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive, based on the implementation of existing agreements.

As I said earlier, I have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis. And that I travelled to London for a series of engagements with the British Government in April, including meetings with the Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary, and Minister of State to the Cabinet Office, and I met again with the Secretary of State last week in Dublin.

In all of these engagements, we discussed the importance of calm, measured leadership and of our two Governments working together to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and to build the confidence of all of the people in its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem.

It will be important that progress is also made to fully implement the NDNA Agreement, including those provisions to improve the sustainability of the institutions and the provisions regarding language, culture and identity. The Government will continue to work in support of its full implementation and to deliver on our own commitments.

We have agreed that we will hold a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in June. The BIIGC is an important institution of the Good Friday Agreement, bringing together the British and Irish Governments under Strand Three of the Agreement to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments. It is imperative that we continue to work closely on a North/South and East-West basis in support of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the NSMC, and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing agreements.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work undertaken to date in terms of the engagement he has had with his counterparts in the UK and in Northern Ireland regarding resolving the recent disturbances in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23944/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the communication he has had with both the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government following recent events in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23954/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 74 together.

The violent incidents that took place across Northern Ireland last month are deeply concerning. Both Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Northern Ireland Assembly have all strongly condemned the violence, and the attacks on police officers and others.

I welcome the relative calm of recent weeks. However, there is clearly potential for similar incidents to resume and to escalate unless there is calm and measured leadership exercised at every level.The Government has been in regular contact with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties throughout this period. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson spoke on 8th April, and called for calm and dialogue. I have also been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, and travelled to London for a series of engagements with the British Government in mid-April, including meetings with the Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb and Minister of State to the Cabinet Office David Frost. Subsequently, on 5th May, I met again with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Dublin.

In these engagements, we discussed the importance of calm, measured leadership and of our two Governments working together to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and build the confidence of all of the people in Northern Ireland in its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem.

During the programme of bilateral engagements in London and Dublin, I reaffirmed the importance of the role of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in strengthening our bilateral relationship and our shared stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement. The British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is an important dimension of that work, and as I mentioned earlier, it has now been agreed to hold its next meeting in June.

The achievements of the peace process must never be taken for granted and we will continue to work with both the UK Government and the Northern Executive for strengthened peace and stability.