Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2015
32. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on meetings he had with political leaders in the North and-or in the United Kingdom regarding the Stormont House Agreement. [8251/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe focus of the Government is currently on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In this context, I represented the Government, together with Minister of State Sean Sherlock, at the first implementation and review meeting of the Agreement in Belfast on 30 January last at which a detailed implementation timeline was agreed. Both the British and Irish Governments, as well as the five Northern Ireland Executive parties, took part in this meeting.
On 11 February, I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers during her visit to Dublin. We discussed a broad range of issues including the next steps in the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. I was also pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the justice and security situation in Northern Ireland and a number of specific legacy cases.
Yesterday in Belfast, I represented the Government, together with Minister of State Sean Sherlock, at the North South Ministerial Council meeting in institutional format. Both First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness represented the Northern Ireland Executive. We considered a report on possible new sectoral priorities for North/South cooperation, as provided for under the Stormont House Agreement.
Overall, work on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement is progressing well and a second review meeting will take place in March, again involving both Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive. A progress report will be published in June 2015. The Government remains committed to playing its part in ensuring the full implementation of the Agreement.
