Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of visits he has paid to Northern Ireland in the past three months; the organisations, groups or persons he met on these visits; the feedback they gave on matters there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3296/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Government’s commitment to supporting the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and maintaining strong relationships, I remain in regular contact with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First Minister and deputy First Minister and party leaders, as well as other civil society, business and religious leaders in Northern Ireland ,

In the past three months, the public health situation and guidance has meant that in-person meetings have been more limited . Nevertheless, I have held regular video conferences and meetings where this has been possible, with a broad range of key stakeholders.

I have been particularly actively engaged in relation to the legacy of the Troubles and our ongoing efforts to make progress in addressing this exceptionally sensitive issue. Most recently on 19 January 2022, I met in Dublin with the cross community Truth and Justice victims group, to discuss their cases and concerns about the way forward and as part of a series of engagements with victims and families who are central to making progress on this issue.

I have remained in very regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as we have sought to work for an agreed way forward, as well as with the party leaders, and together with the Secretary of State I co-chaired a meeting of the Northern Ireland party leaders on 30 November.

Together with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD, I travelled to London on 2 December 2021 to participate in the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis MP. We discussed a broad range of topics relating to Northern Ireland, including the legacy, opportunities for East-West co-operation, and Covid recovery.

Earlier this month, I also met in London with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, to discuss issues including the outworking of Brexit and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I have also maintained contact with Northern Ireland’s business community with regard to the Protocol and last met virtually with business leaders on 11 November.

I will continue to engage closely with the First Minister, deputy First Minister, other political, religious, civil society, and business leaders in Northern Ireland as we move forward, and look forward to increased visits there as the public health context allows.