The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, has travelled to Belfast today, 7 January, for a series of high-level diplomatic and community engagements.

This visit marks one of the Minister's first major trips to Northern Ireland since assuming her current role.

During the day, Minister McEntee is scheduled to hold individual meetings with several prominent political figures at Stormont, including Alliance Party leader and Minister for Justice Naomi Long, and UUP leader and Minister for Health Mike Nesbitt. She will also meet with Matthew O'Toole, the SDLP leader of the opposition, and the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots.

Beyond the political sphere, the Minister's itinerary includes a meeting with representatives from Troubles victims and survivors groups. This continues her previous work as Minister for Justice, where she focused heavily on legacy issues. Minister McEntee stated: "Making an early visit to Northern Ireland has been a priority for me since taking on the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister in December and I am looking forward to further engagements with political leaders today.

"These meetings are an important opportunity to discuss current priorities and shared challenges, and to outline key priorities for this Government. Those include our ongoing work to address the legacy of the Troubles, the Shared Island Initiative, and the essential work of promoting reconciliation on the island."

Reflecting on her commitment to those impacted by the conflict, she added: "Northern Ireland was a focus for me as Minister for Justice, including legacy issues. That is why one of my immediate priorities upon taking up office is to hear from victims and survivors groups. Their views are vital as we work to put in place mechanisms that can provide truth, accountability, and, where possible, justice for victims and survivors."

The Minister will also visit St Malachy's College in North Belfast to see the impact of the Government's Reconciliation Fund. She expressed her enthusiasm for meeting with the students and teachers there, noting that the school's work is essential for "promoting reconciliation at a grass roots level amongst young people."