Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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325. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the way to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland. [56480/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is essential that the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are allowed to function. The Government’s views on this have been clear and consistent. The people of Northern Ireland voted for, and expect, an Assembly and Executive that works for them in these challenging times.

I remain in regular contact with the Northern Irish political parties. I urge those who are blocking the appointment of a Speaker and an Executive to enable the institutions to function.

I welcome the 9 November announcement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton Harris, of his intention to extend the period during which the Northern Ireland parties can form an Executive on the basis of last May’s Assembly election. Furthermore, I welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to provide clarity on a budget for Northern Ireland and on the ability of Northern Ireland Government Departments to make limited decisions essential to the continued functioning of services.

The Secretary of State’s announcement provides further space for early substantive progress in discussions between the EU and UK on the issues of most concern to people and business in Northern Ireland. I urge the UK authorities to make use of this renewed opportunity to engage positively, and with real urgency, in the knowledge that the European Commission has listened carefully to the concerns of people across Northern Ireland, including and especially Unionists.

I have, and remain in, regular meeting and telephone contact with the Secretary of State. I also firmly believe that by working together with the Northern Irish parties in a spirit of cooperation that we can jointly find solutions to the range of issues facing Northern Ireland.