Flanagan hopeful of North progress

Intensive talks to break the political deadlock in Northern Ireland are expected to start within the next fortnight, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan.

Mr Flanagan told the Dáil that while he was cautious about a definite timeframe “I will be disappointed if the talks are not under way within a period of two weeks” and he hoped progress would be reported “by year end”.

Later in the Dáil, Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted there was no case to be made at present for a Border poll on a united Ireland, favoured by Sinn Féin.

Mr Kenny said: “There is no point in wasting time in having a divisive issue, when it is clear that the conditions are not there for it.” He added that it was “important not to confuse the position here with Scotland, where the constitutional question was whether there should be an independent Scotland”.

The Taoiseach said: “Unlike Scotland, there never has been a significant political popular opinion seeking independence for Northern Ireland. It is a different matter.”

During foreign affairs question time Mr Flanagan said the agenda, format and schedule had yet to be finalised but he noted that among the outstanding issues of the Belfast Agreement still to be implemented were the North-South consultative forum, the Irish Language Act and the Bill of Rights.

Mr Flanagan, who last night met Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, said he would continue to press the importance of “implementing outstanding elements of the agreement in my discussions with the British government and Northern Ireland Executive”.

Highlighting matters that were central to the talks chaired last year by Dr Richard Haass and Dr Meghan O’Sullivan, including legacy issues such as parades, flags, identity and dealing with the past, Mr Flanagan expressed confidence that the North’s political representatives “will show the leadership needed to deliver comprehensive, fair and balanced solutions to the issues before them”.

He stressed: “This will require compromise and committed engagement to the talks process.”

The Minister also expected budgetary and financial matters to be on the agenda, including the question of the devolution of corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Fianna Fáil foreign affairs spokesman Brendan Smith said he was baffled about why a North-South consultative forum was not in place by now.

“Civil society does not threaten anybody,” he said.

Sinn Féin spokesman Seán Crowe said his party was concerned that the British government had assumed an “explicitly partisan and pro-Unionist stand and has been cosying up to Unionist politicians”.

Mr Flanagan said the Government “will continue to use all appropriate avenues to progress implementation of the outstanding elements of the Agreement”.