Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I engage regularly with all relevant stakeholders, including the British Government and representatives of the main Northern Ireland parties, to encourage the timely restoration of the Northern Ireland power-sharing institutions.

In my recent meetings with the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland earlier this week at the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference and last week at the British Irish Council, I raised the challenges of Executive Formation. I have been clear that the current situation cannot continue indefinitely and encouraged open, constructive dialogue between all parties.

It is clear from my contacts across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland that there is deep frustration at this continued impasse. The vast majority of elected representatives – national, unionist and neither – want to get back to work.

In the Good Friday Agreement, the participants including the two Governments 'committed to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between these islands.' It is my firm view that progress towards a better, more reconciled, Northern Ireland is best delivered through partnership between the two Governments, on the basis of that commitment we made in 1998. Such partnership requires cooperation, coordination and trust. Unilateral departures from this approach - such as the UK's Legacy Act - are not in keeping with our shared responsibilities as guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

An improved spirit of partnership is needed the Agreement's potential if to be fulfilled and genuine reconciliation is to be achieved. This is a point I have made in the clearest terms to my British counterparts.

This Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with our British counterparts, in particular through the framework of the Good Friday Agreement, which explicitly recognises the importance of East-West relationships in Strand Three.