Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
33. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the impact he and his officials view the draft withdrawal agreement will have on talks on reconvening the Northern Ireland Assembly. [11332/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of an Executive, over many months. Recent developments in Stormont are of serious concern to all of us who want to see the establishment of a functioning, power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland, and the other Institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
The devolved, power-sharing Institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the only way forward for Northern Ireland, and are urgently required.
The Government is now working with the British Government to decide on the best way forward. The Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have a shared responsibility to make every effort to seek a route that will get the devolved institutions operating as soon as possible.
The Taoiseach has spoken with Prime Minister May to emphasise the Government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions. I am in very regular contact with Secretary of State Karen Bradley as we seek a way forward from the current impasse in the discussions to secure the formation of a new Executive.
As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish and British Governments have an obligation to uphold and protect the letter and spirit of that Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement remains the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships - within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland and between the UK and Ireland.
Last week, the Taoiseach and I welcomed the publication of the draft EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, which gives legal effect to the commitments made in December. This represents the practical and logical outworking of the commitments made by the UK, including the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The Government has also welcomed Prime Minister May’s reiteration in her speech last Friday, of the UK’s commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and to the agreement reached last December, including on avoiding a hard border. These commitments need to be translated into concrete proposals and the Government looks forward to UK setting out its proposals in more detail in the Article 50 negotiations.
The Government is of course acutely conscious that the Article 50 negotiations could impact on the urgent need to secure the formation of a new Executive. The negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union are fundamentally political in nature, as is the formation of a power-sharing Executive and the operation of the devolved institutions.
It is incumbent on all with responsibilities in both processes to work to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts can operate fully and effectively, consistent with the resounding democratic endorsement of the Agreement by the people, North and South on this island, almost 20 years ago.
That will remain the Government’s unrelenting focus and solemn duty as a co-guarantor of the Agreement, as we continue to engage to address the impact of the UK exit for the island of Ireland and support the urgent resumption of the devolved institutions in Belfast.
