Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
107. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans the Government has in terms of reforming the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement; the engagement undertaken by her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8690/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government reiterates our belief that the Good Friday Agreement remains the blueprint for unlocking the full potential of our island, and this Government's steadfast commitment to its implementation in full.
We will soon mark the twenty-eighth anniversary of the Agreement. Northern Ireland has not stood still in that time. It is undeniably a better place than it was 28 years ago.
It is also a more diverse place. More people have sought a political home that is not primarily defined by the constitutional question.
As we move further from the experience of conflict on this island, many people expect more from politics, including an end to the cycle of instability that has seen the Executive not working for extended periods over the last decade.
Those are some of the key drivers for the debate around reform.
The institutions have now been up and running again for almost two years. That has presented important opportunities for political leaders to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland and this island, but also to consider the issue of reform.
The Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) at Stormont is currently conducting a review into reform. I welcome that review and my Department is following it closely.
We remain open to a meaningful conversation about reform of the institutions. Any such discussions must be open to all parties, civic voices, and, ultimately, both governments.
However, I am under no illusions about how difficult such a conversation would be, given the careful balances that were reach in the Good Friday Agreement and in subsequent, implementing agreements. I discussed the issue of reform in my meetings with Northern Ireland political leaders during my recent visit to Belfast. There are a range of different views across the political parties in Northern Ireland. I intend also to discuss this issue with the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, when we next meet in person.
I also want to highlight in this context the importance of giving effect to outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement, such as the re-establishment of the Civic Forum, which is a specific commitment in the Programme for Government. Both the Bill of Rights and the Civic Forum are key parts of the overall architecture of the Agreement.
