Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The full and effective implementation and operation of the Good Friday Agreement across all three Strands is a key priority for this Government. It is a matter of great regret that, twenty-five years on from the Agreement being signed, its institutions are not being allowed to deliver to their full capacity for the benefit of the people of this island.

The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to a functioning Assembly and Executive. In recent weeks we have seen cuts to services that will affect the most vulnerable. Local leadership is required to address these challenges. I spoke with political representatives in Northern Ireland last week and reiterated the urgent need for a restoration of the power-sharing institutions. This is also a matter that I discuss regularly with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris.

The absence of a functioning Executive also has knock-on effects on the operation of Strand Two of the Agreement. I am deeply concerned that the work of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has been severely disrupted in recent years and that adequate conversations on shared, all-island challenges are not taking place. However, the Government continues to promote all-island cooperation through the Shared Island Initiative, working with all communities to build a vision for our shared future. We are taking forward this ambitious agenda by progressing North South infrastructure projects, bringing all communities together through our Shared Island Dialogue series, and delivering a comprehensive research programme to inform inclusive dialogue on the future of our island.

The Government also continue to prioritise East-West cooperation and engagement through the Strand Three institutions. This week, I will attend the 39th Summit of the British-Irish Council in Jersey and, next week,the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London. These forums provide a unique platform to build relations across these islands and to address common challenges such as climate sustainability, building for the future, and protecting our unique cultures and individual languages. Members of this House also support Strand Three engagement through their work with the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

Despite the current challenges, the Government will continue to seek opportunities to work with all communities, and when restored, a new Executive, to fully realise the vision of the Good Friday Agreement, and to unlock its full potential.