John Bruton
Ceist:55 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of talks between the parties in Northern Ireland. [27274/98]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:77 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives, if any, the Government is considering in view of the continuing failure to make any progress on the decommissioning issue and the threat this poses to the Northern peace process; his views on the suggestion that Senator George Mitchell might be asked to play a renewed role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4536/99]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:81 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the current progress to implement all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement; the deadlines and time schedules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4505/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 77 and 81 together.
As I have already mentioned in my reply to priority questions, the Government attaches the highest priority to the speedy implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in all its aspects. We are working closely with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to ensure that we achieve that objective.
I have outlined earlier the considerable progress we have made on the implementation process. The key remaining issue is the formation of the shadow executive and decommissioning. The mechanism established to deal with the decommissioning issue is the International Commission on Decommissioning, chaired by General John de Chasterlain. The Government is also working with the International Commission, the British Government and the relevant parties to try to find a way forward. At this stage, I do not envisage a role for Senator George Mitchell in resolving the impasse, but again I would wish to pay the warmest tribute to him for his enormous work on, and contribution to, the peace process.