Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2013
59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the proposals he conveyed to Ambassador Richard Haass during their recent meeting; if his Department forwarded a written submission on these all-party talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47569/13]
View answerI met with Dr Richard Haass on 31 October in Iveagh House. We had met previously in New York on 25 September and have agreed to keep closely in touch. I believe that close and ongoing contact with Dr Haass and his team is preferable to a formal submission at this stage in his consultative process. During these meetings, we discussed each of the issues that he has been asked to address by the Northern Ireland Executive including parades, flags and emblems and the past. Dr Haass has committed to concluding his work by December and, to that end, he has embarked on an ambitious programme of work. I am very supportive of the process of consultation with wider society undertaken by Dr Haass and his team. I believe that this is an essential component to a successful process.
The Government believes that the process presents an opportunity to reaffirm the commitments made throughout the hard-won peace process and to making further progress towards advancing reconciliation and the creation of a truly reconciled and prosperous society in Northern Ireland.
During our meetings to date, I have assured Dr Haass that he and his team have the full support of the Government in the pursuit of their work and that we are ready to assist them in any way we can. Dr Haass and I have agreed to remain in close contact and meet again in the coming weeks.
