Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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373. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to engage with the authorities in Northern Ireland and the UK in the context of the restoration of the Northern Assembly and the prevention of obstacles to trade, North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4751/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The continued absence of an Executive and the failure of the Northern Ireland Assembly to nominate a Speaker is of upmost concern to the Government. The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to be represented by the people who they elected in May 2022. The continued refusal of one party to participate in the nomination of a Speaker and an Executive is a denial of the mandates that was given to the parties by the electorate.  It also impedes the provision of services that much needed by the people of Northern Ireland.

In my contacts with the Northern Irish political parties and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, I have raised the importance that the Government attaches to a functioning Assembly and Executive. 

I have spoken with and met with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions in recent weeks, by telephone on 20 December 2022, in person on 12 January 2023 and at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference 19 January. At each occasion, we discussed the importance that both governments attach to the full functioning of the institutions provided for under the Good Friday Agreement. We will remain in close and regular contact in the period ahead.

I am in regular contact with the Northern Irish political parties with a view to working towards the restoration of the Assembly and of the Executive. I spoke with most party leaders by telephone on 9 January 2023. In all of my calls with the party leaders, I reiterated the importance that this Government places on the formation of a functioning Executive and election of a Speaker. I plan to meet with party leaders in Belfast later this week. 

It is also clear that strong growth in North South trade over the past two decades is one of the key achievements of the peace process. We now have a closely integrated all-island economy, which both supports and is supported by the peace process. The Government will continue to work to create an enabling environment for the continued growth of North South trade, to further unlock the potential of the all-island economy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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374. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the modus operandi in relation to developing improved North/South relations with particular reference to the need to engage with the communities in Northern Ireland in a positive manner in order encourage better understanding of each other’s position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4752/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I maintain regular contact with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including political parties, civic society, and the business community. I spoke with party leaders earlier this month and reiterated the importance that the Government places on the restoration of all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

The formal means for the Government to develop North South cooperation is through the North South Ministerial Council, which was established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement.

I am deeply concerned that the work of the Council has been disrupted in recent years. In the absence of regular NSMC meetings, the two Administrations on the island are not having the important conversations that we should be having to address shared challenges and opportunities. It is vital that the Council is allowed to resume its work as soon as possible. 

In 2020, I launched the Government’s Shared Island Initiative to work with all communities to build a vision for our shared future on the island. 

Over the past two years, we have taken forward this positive agenda by progressing North South infrastructure projects, bringing all communities and traditions together through the Shared Island Dialogue series, and delivering a comprehensive research programme to inform inclusive civic and political dialogue on the future of our island. 

Building on all of this progress, earlier this month I launched the Shared Island Civic Society Fund to support civic society organisations in strengthening cross-border links. This Fund responds to the idea which came through the Shared Island Dialogues that civil society organisations across the island would benefit from support to enable them to work more effectively together on a cross-border basis on issues of common interest.

In the period ahead, the Government wants to work with a new Executive to further develop cooperation and understanding on an all-island basis.

Unfortunately, ongoing disruption to the power-sharing and North South political institutions impacts what is possible in terms of North South cooperation. It is therefore crucial that the Assembly, the Executive, and the NSMC return to operation without further delay.