Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 5

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Jack Wall

Question:

71 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in the talks involving the parties in Northern Ireland which he is co-chairing; the likely timetable for the conclusions of the talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26523/02]

Enda Kenny

Question:

88 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in relation to the Good Friday Agreement. [26453/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 88 together.

Since the suspension of the Northern Ireland Executive on 14 October, intensive contacts with all the parties have been ongoing with a view to the earliest possible restoration of the institutions. Two round-table meetings have taken place between the Governments and the parties, co-chaired by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, and myself, at Stormont on 21 and 28 November. At these meetings, we considered a broad range of issues relating to the current deficit of confidence in the process and how best to restore trust on all sides by creating a political context conducive to the achievement of rapid forward movement in all outstanding areas of the Agreement.

Arising from these round-table meetings, a further series of trilateral contacts was initiated between the two Governments and the parties. The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, and Northern Ireland Office Minister Des Browne met with representatives of Sinn Féin, the PUP, the UKUP, the SDLP, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and the Alliance Party in Belfast last week. The two Governments also held separate bilateral meetings with the UUP last week, including my meeting in Dublin with Sir Reg Empey and Mr. Michael McGimpsey, in which we had a constructive exchange of views. Following the trilateral talks, Ministers Kitt and Browne welcomed the sense of urgency and engagement displayed by all of the parties in the discussions. They were also encouraged by the extent of the shared analysis which exists in a number of areas and by the evident determination to build on that common ground.

They will report on their trilateral meetings to the re-convened round-table talks in Stormont on Thursday, 19 December. Before then, the Secretary of State and I will consider a full agenda of non-devolved matters, including policing and security issues, at tomorrow's meeting in Dublin of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. We will also take the opportunity to assess how the talks are progressing. Our overall aim will be to ensure that the talks are advanced quickly to a positive conclusion, that the institutions are restored at the earliest possible date – and, in any event, in advance of the Assembly elections on 1 May 2003 – and that all outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement are speedily implemented.