Oral Answers to Questions

Alasdair McDonnell Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (Lab)]

3. What steps she is taking to promote a positive outcome for the Haass talks.

[Dr Alasdair McDonnell (Belfast South) (SDLP)]

8. What recent assessment she has made of the Haass process.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Villiers]

I am fully engaged in trying to make that happen, and I remain optimistic that an agreed way forward can be found. The party leaders continue to meet. The speeches made by the Deputy First Minister and First Minister in Washington on these matters were very clear that both Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist party were determined to find a way forward. The on-the-runs crisis has set things back, but I know that the party leaders continue to work. It is a pity that the Ulster Unionist party has pulled out, and I urge it to come back to the table.

[Dr McDonnell]

Does the Secretary of State accept that if the process begun by Richard Haass is to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, party leaders and parties in Northern Ireland will require the active hands-on support of both the British and Irish Governments—namely, her good self and the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore?

[Mrs Villiers]

They certainly will need the support and encouragement of both Governments. I can assure the House that they very definitely have that, and that was confirmed in my discussions with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on Monday. We are committed to this process and we want to see it succeed. If we have learned anything from the events of recent days, it is the importance of a balanced, transparent and accountable process to deal with Northern Ireland’s past.