Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
102. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that both Governments are delivering on all of the commitments in the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17255/13]
View answerThe Government remains firmly committed to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. In contacts with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the Northern Ireland Executive, I have stressed, and will continue to do so, the importance of implementation of all aspects of the Agreement. The North South Inter-Parliamentary Association – as provided for in the Agreement - met for the second time in Plenary at Stormont last month. The Association will provide a forum for regular and formal discussions between Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas on issues of mutual interest and concern, as envisaged in the Agreements. The Association will meet twice yearly on a rotational basis. An important commitment under the Good Friday Agreement was realised in October 2012 with Digital Switchover on the island of Ireland on 24 October 2012, when TG4 and Radio na Gaeltachta became available in Northern Ireland.
One important outstanding provision of the Agreement is a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland which takes account of the separate and specific context of Northern Ireland. I believe that all parties in this House will share my frustration at the lack of progress on a Bill of Rights and I will continue to engage actively with the British government and the Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. Some of the contentious issues around parades, flags and identities have at their heart rights issues and a Bill of Rights is the key to dissolving the obstacles to progress on these issues. I would also encourage all the political parties on the island of Ireland to give serious consideration to the advice of the Joint Committee of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights Commission on an all-Ireland Charter of Rights.
Recent events have recalled and positive role that civil society continues to play in Northern Ireland and points to the valuable role that could be played by the Civic Forum envisaged by the Agreement and I will continue to encourage it’s development.
