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Flanagan in London for Northern Ireland talks

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan is in London today for talks on Northern Ireland, as well as a series of engagements with representatives of the Irish community there.

The Minister will meet with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, M.P., to discuss recent developments there as well as assessing the potential for progress amongst the parties of the Northern Ireland Executive in dealing with contentious issues.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Minister said:

The Irish government attaches the utmost importance to Northern Ireland and my talks with the Secretary of State will focus on how Northern Ireland’s parties can be encouraged back to the table to address outstanding issues including parades, flags, and the past.

Later today the Minister will visit Ashford Place, a care centre catering for vulnerable Irish emigrants in Cricklewood, which since 2006 has received €2 million in funding through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Minister Flanagan’s programme also includes a briefing on the work of Irish State Agencies operating in Britain, at a time when bilateral trade, close to €1 billion per week, is greater than ever, and tourism figures are on the rise again. The Minister will meet with Irish business networks and community groups, including Global Irish Network members based in London.

Read the full press release here.