Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions being taken to best ensure parts of Northern Ireland do not return to violence as seen in 2021; the work being carried out between his Department and the relevant bodies in Northern Ireland to promote peace at this critical time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38597/21]
View answerThe achievements of the peace process must never be taken for granted and we will continue to work to protect and uphold the Good Friday Agreement in all circumstances, and to support the ongoing work of peace and deeper reconciliation.
The violent incidents that took place in early April 2021 in Northern Ireland were deeply concerning to all of us. They underscored the importance of continued dialogue to ensure that the hard won peace on this island is maintained.
There are democratic and legal means available to address everyone’s concerns, be they in relation to the outworking of Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol, or other issues. Where there are legitimate concerns, we will of course continue to listen and engage.
The importance of calm and measured leadership and of the two governments working together in support of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is clear. The UK and Irish Governments are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and peace process and as such it is vital that we work together to ensure its protection. I have continued to engage regularly on these issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and with the Northern Ireland parties.
I was pleased to co-chair the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) last month. The BIIGC is an important institution of the Good Friday Agreement, and it was positive both that it met for the first time since 2019, and that we agreed that it would be convened again in November.
Alongside East-West relations, economic and security cooperation and other shared ambitions, we were able to discuss how we can, together, best support the stability of all institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. There were also important discussions around the need to make progress on addressing the legacy of the past, and we announced the beginning of an intensive period of engagement on the issue with the Northern Ireland parties, and victims at its heart.
We look forward to continued engagement with counterparts from the Northern Ireland Executive through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).
The NSMC is essential to oversee and develop North South cooperation on matters of mutual interest. Two successful NSMC plenary meetings have now taken place, as well as a number of Sectoral meetings at Ministerial level, and progress continues across the breadth of North-South areas of cooperation. It is regrettable that it was necessary to postpone the plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council scheduled for 18 June, but planning is underway for this to take place in the weeks ahead.
The Irish Government is continuing to progress the commitments that were made at the time of the New Decade New Approach Agreement, which are focused on working with the Executive to deliver projects that benefit people across the island, including greater connectivity between North and South; investing in the North West region and in border communities; supporting the Irish language in Northern Ireland; and supporting reconciliation as an integral part of the Peace Process. The first implementation review meeting took place in January of this year, which I attended with representatives of the British Government and the Executive. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to the Peace Process.
Furthermore, the Department’s Reconciliation Fund plays a key part in demonstrating in a very practical and tangible way the Government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Reconciliation Fund awards grants to 150-200 projects each year, supporting projects across the community, voluntary, and higher education sectors.
The majority of grants are awarded to groups working within Northern Ireland. These projects build meaningful links across communities, addressing the issues that are impacting on their lives, including sectarianism, and are working to create better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.
