Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the new initiatives he intends to pursue to bring about a restoration of the Northern Assembly or the outstanding issues relating to the Good Friday Agreement. [26379/23]
View answerThe full and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement across all its three strands is a key priority. Critical to this is the restoration of the Assembly and Executive, to give effect to the mandate given by the people of Northern Ireland in May 2022. The absence of a functioning Executive impacts on Strand Two of the Agreement, given the interoperability of the institutions of the two Strands. The full functioning of the North South Ministerial Council would enable the further development of initiatives in such areas as health and education which impact positively on the well-being of people in both jurisdictions.
I remain in regular contact with political representatives in Northern Ireland, reiterating the urgent need for a functioning Assembly and Executive., including during my visit to Belfast last week. It is clear from my contacts with parties that there is a genuine desire to get the Executive back up and running.
I am also in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with restoration of the institutions a core focus of our discussions. We met most recently in Banbridge on 25 May 2023, and spoke by phone on 12 June. I also held a lengthy bilateral engagement with him on 16 May 2023 in Dublin. As well as the urgent need to restore the Northern Ireland political institutions, I also reiterated the Government’s ongoing opposition to the British Government’s Legacy Bill, which will cause lasting damage to the work of reconciliation on this island.
The Secretary of State and I will meet this week, at the British Irish Council, and, next week, at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference , both Strand Three institutions.
The Government will continue to work across all strands of the Good Friday Agreement in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland.
We will continue to seek ways and opportunities to work with all communities, and with a new Executive, to harness the power of what we can achieve when we work together and to build consensus around our shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
