Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
32. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the implementation of outstanding provisions in the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/13]
View answerThe Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and associated agreements and this is a regular subject for discussion in my meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the First and Deputy First Minister. I discussed these issues most recently on the 29th April 2013 when I visited Belfast for discussions with Secretary of State Villiers and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. During these meetings we also discussed the urgent need to make progress on building a shared and reconciled society in Northern Ireland. I am pleased to note that there has been some progress on this matter since our discussions, with the announcement by First and Deputy First Minister last week that they will be publishing a strategy on building a reconciled and united community in Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.
During my most recent visit I also co-hosted an event to mark the 15th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast. The event featured around 60 teenagers born at the time of the Good Friday Agreement along with representatives of civil society and was an opportunity to underline the importance to their future of full implementation of the Agreement.
