Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
739. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposal to establish a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1773/15]
View answer740. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposed Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1774/15]
View answer741. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposal to re-establish the Northern Ireland Civic Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1775/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739 to 741, inclusive, together.
Key outstanding matters from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreement were discussed in the recent Stormont House talks. In relation to the particular outstanding matters raised by the Deputy, the following is the position.
During the course of the talks, the Government advanced the view that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. Sufficient consensus between the Northern Ireland Executive Parties did not exist to take this forward within the context of the Stormont House Agreement. However, the final Agreement provided that the parties commit to serving the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the obligations on government to promote equality and respect and to prevent discrimination; to promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding at every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and encourage shared and integrated education and housing, social inclusion, and in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life; and to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goals of reconciliation and economic renewal.
It is a matter of regret that agreement could not be reached on an Irish Language Act as part of the Stormont House Agreement. While the St. Andrews Agreement did provide a commitment to introduce an Irish Language Act, the British Government made it clear during the recent talks that, as language matters were now devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, it would not legislate at Westminster for such an Act. It was equally clear that the necessary consensus among the parties for such legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly was not forthcoming.
Nevertheless, the Stormont House Agreement does contain an important and formal recognition by the British and Irish Government of the need for respect for, and recognition of, the Irish language in Northern Ireland. An Irish Language Act remains an outstanding matter. The Government will continue to advocate for its enactment and to encourage those Northern Ireland parties which currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
In line with the Good Friday Agreement, a Northern Ireland Civic Forum was set up in October 2000 but was suspended, along with the Northern Ireland Assembly, in 2002. Following the restoration of devolved powers in May 2007, the then First Minister and deputy First Minister considered the position of the Civic Forum in the re-established devolved arrangements and commissioned a review of the effectiveness and appropriateness of its structure, operation and membership.
The Government believe that greater civic engagement would stimulate informed public debate in Northern Ireland in relation to key societal challenges. This was the position put forward by the Government in the recent Stormont House talks. I welcome that the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a civic advisory panel to meet regularly on key social, cultural and economic issues and to advise the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Government will continue its efforts to ensure that the full potential of the Agreements is realised towards achieving effective partnership government, genuine reconciliation between divided communities and economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.
