Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2013
113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the issues discussed at his recent meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7910/13]
View answerI met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Ms. Theresa Villiers in Farmleigh on 11 February, 2013. We discussed the current political situation in Northern Ireland noting the importance of political leadership in countering sectarianism. We discussed how the two governments might assist political leaders in Northern Ireland promote a genuinely shared society. We also discussed the security and public order situation in Northern Ireland and noted the ongoing close cooperation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána.
On the issue of parades in Northern Ireland the Secretary of State and I agreed on the importance of supporting the institution of the Parades Commission and its decisions. We also discussed the cases of a number of prisoners held in Maghaberry Prison. We both welcomed the decision by the EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council on 7/8 February that €150 million will be allocated towards a new PEACE Programme. We also discussed the equine DNA issue noting that this is now a Europe wide problem and we welcomed the ongoing cooperation and contact between the Irish Food Safety Agency (FSAI) and the Food Safety Agency in NI and the UK.
