merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore, T.D., today met the Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, M.P., the newly appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Hillsborough Castle. On this, their first meeting, the Tánaiste congratulated her on her appointment and wished her well in her new job.

He recalled the close working relationship he had enjoyed with her predecessor Owen Paterson and his deputy Hugo Swire. He noted that the two Governments had achieved a great deal through close cooperation over the years as co-guarantors of the peace process.

The Tánaiste noted that recent parades-related violence in North Belfast underlined the need for the two governments to support efforts to address division and sectarianism and the need to promote the shared future agenda.

The Tánaiste and the Secretary of State affirmed their commitment to work closely together in building on the progress already achieved to create a stable, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland for everyone.