Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he expects to be in a position to interact with the authorities in Northern Ireland post-local elections there to the benefit of people and economies North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28837/23]
View answerI remain in regular contact with political representatives in Northern Ireland, reiterating the urgent need for a functioning Assembly and Executive.
I was in Belfast last week and while I was there I spoke with the main political parties. It is clear that there is a genuine desire to get the Executive back up and running. I believe there is a window of opportunity following the local elections to restore of the Executive and the Assembly and I urge members of all parties to take their seats so that the issues facing Northern Ireland can be addressed. People in Northern Ireland deserve to be represented by the politicians that they elected in May 2022.
The absence of a functioning Executive also has knock-on affects on the operation of Strand Two of the Agreement. I am deeply concerned that the work of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has been severely disrupted in recent years. In the absence of regular NSMC meetings, the two Administrations on the island are not having the necessary conversations to address shared challenges and develop opportunities for the benefit of the people of this island. It is vital that the Council is allowed to resume its work as soon as possible.
The Government wants to see the island of Ireland prosper. Increased economic prosperity, North or South, benefits us all. Our closely integrated all-island economy is one of the key dividends of the peace process and remains a priority. The Government will continue to work to create an enabling environment for businesses, North and South, to grow cross-border trade and further unlock the potential of the all-island economy.
I am also in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who I met most recently in Banbridge on 25 May 2023. I also held a lengthy bilateral engagement with him on 16 May 2023 in Dublin. In my recent contacts with the Secretary of State we spoke about the urgent need to restore the Northern Ireland political institutions. I will meet with the Secretary of State next week at the BIIGC in London where we will once again exchange views on how best to support the urgent restoration of the Strand One institutions.
The Government will continue to work closely on a North-South and an East-West basis in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of all of the Strands of the Good Friday Agreement and as well as subsequent agreements.
