- Minister says we should not forget the lessons of the past
- Despite good progress in implementing the Stormont House Agreement, some significant issues remain to be resolved
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D., travelled to Armagh and Belfast today (Thursday, 23 February).
The Minister addressed the Centre for Cross Border Studies annual conference in Armagh this afternoon and this evening he delivered the annual Pat Finucane lecture hosted by Relatives for Justice in Belfast.
At the annual conference of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Minister Flanagan said:
“I am very pleased to speak at the Centre for Cross Border Studies annual conference, which provides an important opportunity at this time to enable discussion on Brexit and North South cooperation.
“Working in a spirit of co-operation, North and South, is key to mitigating negative impacts of Brexit for our people. Under our Programme for a Partnership Government we are committed to advancing that co-operation, particularly through the cross-border bodies and the North South Ministerial Council.
“As the Taoiseach made very clear last week, the Government will oppose a hard border, argue for free movement on this island, seek EU funding for cross-border projects and protect the rights of EU citizens, whether from North or South.
“The Irish Government is very actively seeking recognition and accommodation of the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, North and South. The Government will maintain its focus on pursuit of specific, effective, and realisable measures that address each of the issues of concern under Brexit.”
At the annual Pat Finucane lecture (full text below) in Belfast, Minister Flanagan said:
“To uphold the law in accordance with the highest standards without fear or favour is as much a vocation as it is a profession. As such it is deserving of support and respect from parliament, from government, from media and from society.
“Those officers of the law who must work in the full glare of the public and political gaze must be allowed to do their duty without attacks on their personal or professional integrity – much less their lives.
“It is our duty to create the conditions under which the law can operate without fear or favour. As we gather here in the week of Pat Finucane’s anniversary, the past is far too near and its echoes should be far too loud for this lesson to be forgotten anywhere on these islands
“It is that same respect for the rule of law and the protection and vindication of the human rights of all that underpin the architecture agreed by both Governments and the five main political parties back in 2014 at Stormont House.
“The few but significant outstanding issues must be resolved, so that the Stormont House institutional framework on the past can be agreed and legislated for as required, in the UK and Ireland.”