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Good Friday Agreement

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Questions (128)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

128. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Good Friday Agreement. [41067/18]

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Written answers

The Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships – within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland, and between the UK and Ireland.

The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the programme for partnership Government.

Since the Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. The absence of the Executive also means that that North South Ministerial Council cannot meet.

I am currently engaging with the Secretary of State, Karen Bradley on how both Governments can most effectively secure the effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

In the period ahead, I believe a new political process is required to get beyond the current impasse and secure the necessary agreement between the parties on operating the devolved institutions again. I do not underestimate the way to go in achieving that, but I firmly believe that a resolution is possible and that the calls from across all sections of the community in Northern Ireland for the devolved institutions to operate will be heeded.

A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place on 25 July to discuss issues of mutual interest to the Irish and British Governments, in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. The conference discussed legacy issues, security co-operation, east-west bilateral issues and political stability in Northern Ireland. A date for the next meeting of the conference is currently being considered.

Regarding the UK decision to leave the European Union, the Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and the gains and benefits of the peace process, are protected for people on the island of Ireland, North and South. The Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns and is continuing to engage intensively in the article 50 process, to ensure the protection of the Good Friday Agreement.

In terms of outstanding commitments, the Government continues to support a statutory basis for the Irish language in Northern Ireland, as envisaged under the St Andrews Agreement. Respect for linguistic diversity and the Irish language are important elements of the Good Friday Agreement.

As reflected in the programme for partnership Government, the Government also remains supportive of, and continues to advocate for, the advancement of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The continued value of a bill of rights in the context of Brexit was one of the themes which emerged from the all island civic dialogue sectoral on human rights under the Good Friday Agreement which the Government convened in February 2017.

A North South consultative forum is a further important outstanding element envisaged under the Good Friday Agreement, and the Government has continued to pursue this, including by maintaining the issue on the North South Ministerial Council in recent years.

The Government views as a solemn responsibility our role and mandate as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We will spare no effort to fulfil our duty as co-guarantor, including to seek the effective operation of all of its institutions, ensure that the agreement is protected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and working for the implementation of outstanding commitments. The Government will continue this work, in co-operation with the British Government and engaging with all of the political parties in Northern Ireland.

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