26/05/2016

Flanagan Welcomes Formation of Northern Irish Government

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has welcomed the formation of the new Executive in Northern Ireland.

Speaking from Donegal, where he welcomed TRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for a one-day visit, Minister Flanagan said: "I warmly welcome the formation of the new Executive in Northern Ireland today and wish all of the Ministers well in their new portfolios.

"It is encouraging that a Justice Minister in Northern Ireland has again been appointed with the necessary cross-community vote of the Assembly. I wish Minister Sugden well in the Justice portfolio, which is particularly sensitive and carries great responsibility.

"Now that the new Executive has been formed, it is very important that the two Governments and the Northern Ireland parties promptly re-engage to advance the full implementation of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.

"In this respect, I look forward to early and significant progress on the establishment of the institutions to address the legacy of the past, on tackling paramilitarism and advancing North-South cooperation. In regard to the latter, the forthcoming Plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council will provide an early opportunity to take stock of work underway and to advance progress in areas that provide mutual benefit to the people of both parts of the island."

(MH/LM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 March 2010
HBO Fantasy Epic For North
Fantasy filmmaking is on the way to Belfast. Northern Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Culture and Arts Minister, Nelson McCausland have confirmed, that the series, Game of Thrones will be filmed in Northern Ireland.
29 November 2019
New National LGBTQ+ Inclusion Strategy Launched
A new National Inclusion Strategy for Ireland's LGBTQ+ communities has been launched by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton.
05 July 2011
Justice Served As North's Laws Updated
The first raft of new justice powers created and debated in Northern Ireland in four decades come into force this week. Stormont Justice Minister David Ford has commenced a number of new provisions under the Northern Ireland Justice Act 2011, which secured Assembly approval in March.
09 June 2011
North Needs 'More Than Survival' Says Cameron
The British Prime Minister has called for Stormont politicians to work towards creating a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland Speaking at Stormont Castle in Belfast today, Mr Cameron highlighted the recent State Visit by Her Majesty the Queen to the Republic of Ireland as an example of the progress that had been made.
20 May 2011
Queen Visits Rock Of Cashel
The Queen and Prince Philip are flying to rural Tipperary and the city of Cork today to visit both a popular market and Ireland's most visited tourist site, the historic Rock of Cashel.