Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 133
Strand Three institutions offer significant untapped potential for cross-island cooperation and mutual benefit.
Conclusion
As with Strand Two, we recognise the importance of Strand Three to the overall character and successful functioning of the Agreement. Ostensibly—and evidenced by the way in which they have largely been used—the institutions under Strand Three serve to provide structures to support the operation of the Strand One institutions. This is indeed an important function, but it is a limited understanding of the role and potential of Strand Three, which the Agreement clearly saw as providing opportunities to discuss and agree mutual cooperation across these islands, and not merely as a support mechanism for one territory. We welcome the recent rapprochement between the British and Irish governments, but we stress the ready-made opportunity which the Strand Three institutions provide to share insights and understanding, to cooperate on policy issues for mutual benefit and, in essence, to constitute a bedrock of support for each constituent territory against future challenges.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of Strand Three to the Agreement and commits to utilising its full potential, noting that the relevant bodies already meet regularly and the Prime Minister attended in 2022.
Paragraph Reference:
133
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Rejected for now. Given the recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, a review of the Agreement, or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. While the Government’s focus has been firmly on the immediate restoration of the devolved institutions, we do recognise the challenges the report identifies concerning the stability of the institutions. Any discussion of reforms, including on the subject of timing, should be carefully considered and command the support of the whole community in Northern Ireland. The Agreement has been vital, and it should continue to be a living document. Any significant reform requires widespread consent, led by the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives. Voices from the UK or Irish Governments should not be at the forefront of calls for reform. Matters relating to Strand One institutions remain a matter for the UK Government along with the NI parties. The Committee’s recommendation for the review to include the institutions’ ability to provide effective and stable government with broad cross-community inclusion is noted; cross-community protections are vital, and any movement away from the current system requires whole community support. Regarding Strand Three (PM attendance at BIIGC/BIC), these bodies already meet regularly, and the Prime Minister attended in 2022; the Government is committed to utilising Strand Three to its full potential. For Strand Two (NSMC/implementation bodies), we are committed to upholding all strands, but any review of Strand Two should be led by ministers in Northern Ireland and Ireland. The Government recognises the interest in a Citizen’s Assembly and civic engagement, and has listened to community views. It notes that the Northern Ireland Assembly and local councils are democratically chosen representative bodies. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the success of the 38th summit of the British-Irish Council in November 2022.