Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
541. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the announcement on 9 March 2015 by Sinn Féin to withdraw its support for the Social Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11623/15]
View answer542. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the future of the Northern Ireland Executive, in view of the recent announcement of Sinn Féin on 9 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/15]
View answer543. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be implications for the Northern Ireland Executive following the withdrawal of support for the Social Welfare Bill by Sinn Féin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11626/15]
View answer544. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the Stormont House Agreement following Sinn Féin's announcement of withdrawal of its support for the Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/15]
View answer545. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet the British Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, to discuss the announcement of Sinn Féin to withdraw its support for the Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11630/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 545, inclusive, together.
The effective and expeditious implementation of the totality of the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement is a key priority of the Government.
It is important to ensure that the recent developments in relation to the Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland do not have a corrosive impact on the wider implementation of the Agreement. That is why the Government has encouraged all parties to stand back and consider the overall potential benefit for the people of Northern Ireland offered by the Stormont House Agreement and to ensure that this potential is fully achieved.
The Irish Government was not a party to the negotiations late last year in Stormont Castle or Stormont House which dealt specifically with budgets and financial issues. Recent and ongoing discussions on these matters take place primarily between the Northern Ireland Executive Party leaders themselves. For that reason, I have called on the Northern Ireland parties, and in particular Sinn Féin and the DUP, to work together to find a solution to the current difficulties on welfare. I know that work is ongoing by Northern Ireland’s political leaders to resolve the welfare issue, and I understand that some progress has been made.
I have stayed in close contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Northern Ireland's party leaders on this matter. I met with them most recently at the second implementation and review meeting of the Stormont House Agreement in Belfast on 27 March. The Taoiseach also met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister during his visit to Belfast on the previous day.
In all contacts I have underlined that the success of the Agreement is contingent on the faithful implementation of the totality of its provisions. Our collective objective must be to build on the good work that has already been done towards the Agreement's implementation and to maintain forward momentum.
