Minister Donohoe encourages more engagement by Unionist MLAs with Dáil Eireann

Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe T.D., this afternoon (Wednesday) encouraged a greater level of engagement by Northern Ireland Unionist MLAs with members of Dáil Éireann. Minister Donohoe was speaking in the Dáil on Statements on the Current Situation in Northern Ireland (see full speech below).

“Northern Ireland is debated regularly by the Joint Committee on the Good Friday Agreement, whose members hear from a wide range of voices and undertake visits to Northern Ireland. It is regrettable, however, that MPs from all Northern Ireland Assembly parties do not participate in meetings of the Committee.

“I welcome the fact that the UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt addressed the Committee in 2012 and would encourage others to do the same. If all strands of the political sphere are at the table, then all political interests can be equally represented.

“Engagement on Northern Ireland is a matter of the highest priority for this Government. And in the current economic circumstances, we are even more determined to concentrate on the areas where co-operation makes sense and bring real, tangible mutual benefits to people across the island.

“Coming together to do all we can to make sure that Northern Ireland becomes the peaceful and reconciled society envisioned in the Good Friday Agreement is in all of our interests. Close links have been developed and maintained by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and leaders in Northern Ireland and the UK. The PSNI and the Gardaí are also working more closely and effectively than ever before.

“With this in mind I would encourage all political representatives in Northern Ireland, from all parties, to engage with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Good Friday Agreement where they can.”