Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues with particular reference to the totally unacceptable Legacy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The UK government's unilateral Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Bill will shortly enter into law.

Since the Bill's publication, the Government, together with all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, victims and their representatives, church leaders and civic society, has consistently expressed strong opposition to the approach to dealing with the past which the UK government proposes.

At my most recent with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, in the margins of the British Irish Association, on 2 September in Oxford, I again reiterated the Government's strong concern that the Bill would not, in our view, deal with legacy issues in a fit for purpose way. It is our view that the approach proposed is not compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and would damage reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. This a message which I have conveyed to the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, and as Taoiseach to a number of Prime Ministers. The UK government is aware that Ireland's preferred approach to dealing with these issues would that agreed by the two Governments, together with Northern Irish leaders, at Stormont House. I

I am aware of calls for consideration of the initiation of an inter-state case against the United Kingdom before the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the UK Legacy Bill. Many of those calls come from elected members of this House. As the Taoiseach and I have stated in the last number of days, the Government have sought legal advice on this matter, and when that advice is received the Government will consider what subsequent action will be taken.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39310/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will meet in Dublin on 28 November, the third meeting of the Conference this year following meetings in London in June and Dublin in January. The Conference was established under Strand Three of the Good Friday Agreement to promote bilateral cooperation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of the British and Irish Governments.

The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference offers is a forum for discussion of vital issues which impact on the everyday lives of citizens across these islands, but with a focus on Northern Ireland. Officials in the standing Secretariat prepare the agenda. In 2023, issues including security, energy cooperation, cybersecurity and education have been discussed at the Conference.

While the agenda for the November Conference has yet to be finalised, the two Governments agreed during both of the Conferences in 2023 on the critical importance of the restoration of the Assembly and Executive as well as the North South Ministerial Council. While I sincerely hope that the devolved institutions are restored before November, if they are not, the Conference will provide an important forum for discussion of the responsibilities of the two Governments in those circumstances.

At a time when the Strand One and Strand Two institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have been prevented from functioning effectively, it is vital that the work of Strand Three, including the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, continues to provide a positive forum for the two Governments to strengthen the East West relationship.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his most recent meetings with the political parties in Northern Ireland concerning the need to have the Assembly and Executive restored without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39311/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The restoration of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland, and the North South Ministerial Council, continues to be of utmost importance to the Government.

It is clear that the ongoing absence of an Executive and Assembly is having a detrimental effect on people, business and society in Northern Ireland. People in Northern Ireland deserve to be represented by the politicians that they elected in May 2022.

I remain in regular contact with the Northern Ireland political parties. I met a number of party representatives in the margins of the British Irish Association in Oxford on 1 - 2 September. This followed upon in person meetings with party leaders in June, and regular telephone calls, most recently at the end of July. In all these discussions I urged all parties to allow the restoration of the institutions, so that the issues facing people in Northern Ireland can be addressed. I will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland parties, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the coming weeks to support the process of restoring the Executive and Assembly.

The absence of a functioning Executive 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. 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 continue its work as soon as possible.

The Government is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and that is a responsibility i take seriously. I will continue to work in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of all of the Strands of the Good Friday Agreement.