I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 to 48, inclusive, and 108 to 110, inclusive, together.
I spoke briefly with Prime Minister Cameron en marge at the recent Brussels EU summit meeting and again by telephone on Sunday 6th July. The focus of our most recent discussions has been on the escalation of the situation in Northern Ireland following the Parades Commission determination regarding the Ardoyne parade. We both agreed on the need for calm, restraint, respect for the rule of the law and a resumption of dialogue.
The Prime Minister and I both want to see the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement working and delivering positive outcomes for the people of Northern Ireland. We maintain very close contact and this will continue in the period ahead. Senior officials from my Department visited London yesterday to engage with their UK counterparts.
My Department was informed by the Cabinet Office of the arrest of Deputy Adams at 9pm on the evening of the arrest.
I also spoke to the Prime Minister by telephone over the weekend following the arrest of Deputy Adams. We agreed that due process should be allowed to take place and that concern over any aspect of the case was a matter for the Policing Board of Northern Ireland and the Office of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland. We took the opportunity during that conversation to reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrew’s agreements.
I have not had the opportunity recently to discuss with Prime Minister Cameron specific legacy related cases such as Ballymurphy and Pat Finucane.
I spoke by telephone with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice and Alliance Party leader David Ford last week. I also held meetings with the leadership of the SDLP and Sinn Féin in Government Buildings, to hear their assessment of the current situation. On each occasion I repeated my message, urging them to use their influence to ensure that any protests are peaceful and that a resumption of dialogue can take place as soon as possible.