Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
66. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the work undertaken to date in terms of the engagement he has had with his counterparts in the UK and in Northern Ireland regarding resolving the recent disturbances in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23944/21]
View answer74. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the communication he has had with both the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government following recent events in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23954/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 74 together.
The violent incidents that took place across Northern Ireland last month are deeply concerning. Both Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Northern Ireland Assembly have all strongly condemned the violence, and the attacks on police officers and others.
I welcome the relative calm of recent weeks. However, there is clearly potential for similar incidents to resume and to escalate unless there is calm and measured leadership exercised at every level.The Government has been in regular contact with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties throughout this period. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson spoke on 8th April, and called for calm and dialogue. I have also been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, and travelled to London for a series of engagements with the British Government in mid-April, including meetings with the Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb and Minister of State to the Cabinet Office David Frost. Subsequently, on 5th May, I met again with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Dublin.
In these engagements, we discussed the importance of calm, measured leadership and of our two Governments working together to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and build the confidence of all of the people in Northern Ireland in its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem.
During the programme of bilateral engagements in London and Dublin, I reaffirmed the importance of the role of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in strengthening our bilateral relationship and our shared stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement. The British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is an important dimension of that work, and as I mentioned earlier, it has now been agreed to hold its next meeting in June.
The achievements of the peace process must never be taken for granted and we will continue to work with both the UK Government and the Northern Executive for strengthened peace and stability.
