Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly, Executive and North-South Ministerial Council restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55785/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland party leaders to underline the importance of getting the full range of Good Friday Institutions up and running, across all three strands.
I recognise that Northern Ireland has always been at its strongest and made its greatest strides when the Irish and British Governments have worked in close partnership. As we tackle current political challenges, we would like to see this partnership between the two Governments deliver in the same way. During meetings in Dublin of the British-Irish Council on 24 November and the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference on 28 November, I had a number of engagements with Secretary of State Heaton-Harris. These meetings highlight the importance of structures of the Good Friday Agreement for engagement between the two Governments, providing a framework for our partnership.
At the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Conference on 12 October in Dublin, I also discussed the challenges of Executive formation with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I was in direct contact with Northern Ireland political parties in late October.
It is deeply disappointing that over a year and half on from the last Assembly elections, Northern Ireland's political institutions remain blocked, and as a result the North-South Ministerial Council is also prevented from fulfilling the responsibilities mandated to it by the Good Friday Agreement.
It is essential that the democratically elected representatives of Northern Ireland are allowed to take up their responsibilities and deliver on the numerous challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland. My engagement with political and business leaders at September’s Northern Ireland Investment Summit left no room for doubt that a restored Executive would be best positioned to advance a rich range of opportunities. Elected leaders have a particular responsibility to demonstrate that politics works, and citizens deserve to see politics working.
