To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to the need for new formal structures for dialogue to be established between the Irish and British Governments in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 
- Darragh O'Brien.
For PRIORITY answer on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.
Ref No: 18553/17 

REPLY
Ireland has a strong and constructive relationship with the UK and with our EU partners, and we are fully committed to maintaining both in the new set of circumstances which will emerge once the UK leaves the EU. 

There are numerous channels for Irish-British engagement and both Governments are making extensive and effective use of them. Some of these fora were developed in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and some of them were established more recently or have evolved and developed over the years to reflect the close relationship between these islands. They will all be used to the full, not least given the UK’s exit from the European Union. 

These channels include the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference (BIIGC), the British Irish Council (BIC), the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) and a formal process established in 2012 involving summits between the Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister, supported by a Joint Work Programme managed at official level by the heads of all government departments in Dublin and London. 

At political level, there are ongoing and frequent contacts across all policy areas. As well as regular meetings the Taoiseach and I would have with our counterparts, government colleagues recently meeting their UK counterparts have included the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Education and Science. 

In terms of our diplomatic resources, our Embassy in London is and will remain our largest bilateral Embassy in the world. In fact, given the UK exit from the EU and with a view to helping strengthen bilateral links in a post-Brexit context, two additional diplomatic officers have been assigned to the Embassy. We also have a Consulate General in Edinburgh, for which I approved an additional diplomat in 2015, while our trade, tourism and investment agencies’ footprint in Britain is significant and will continue to be.  

Regarding formal structures, the next summit of the British Irish Council is scheduled to take place in Northern Ireland in June 2017, with the previous meeting having taken place in Cardiff in November 2016. BIC meetings such as these provide Ireland with valuable opportunities to engage with devolved administrations in the UK, while there are twelve specific work sectors being addressed at ministerial and official level all year round. The summit meetings since the UK referendum have also included specific sessions on Brexit, in doing so reflecting a capacity for flexibility in issues being discussed at them. 

In terms of individual devolved administrations, I would point to the fact that the Irish Government has taken particular care to maintain close contacts with the Scottish and Welsh governments, with First Minister Sturgeon visiting Dublin in November 2016 and the Taoiseach meeting with Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones in Cardiff last month. 

The formal structures also include the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference which comes within the architecture of the Good Friday Agreement and whose function is to bring together the British and Irish Governments to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments.

The Conference has traditionally focused on issues of mutual concern relating to Northern Ireland where its remit is non-devolved matters – that is, those which are reserved to the British Government and Westminster rather than the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. As the scope of non-devolved matters in Northern Ireland has become quite narrow over recent years, there has been no business need for the Conference to meet at political level. However, its Secretariat – made up of Irish and British civil servants - continues to be an important day to day channel of contact between both Governments and the Irish officials assigned to the Secretariat constitute the Irish Government presence in Belfast. 

Parliamentary links are also vitally important and will be more crucial than ever once the UK departs from the EU. I myself will be delivering an address at the next plenary meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, to be held in Kilkenny in May 2017. This Assembly and its Committees meet regularly to examine areas of shared importance across the member jurisdictions (Ireland, the UK, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and what are known as the Crown Dependencies), and this includes Brexit. I am also heartened by the regular interaction between other parliamentary committees, which is to be welcomed and encouraged as the withdrawal process continues.

Overall, as Deputies can see from what I have set out, there are extensive arrangements for dialogue with Britain - including ones which offer flexibility in terms of management and policy focus. We will of course keep matters under review, including as the details of the UK’s new relationship with the EU emerge in the period ahead. 

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent events in Hungary including the silencing of critical media outlets; the steps that have been taken at EU level in view of such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.


REPLY
Respect for the fundamental values on which the European Union is founded and which are set out in the Treaty, including respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression, must continue to be at the forefront of all efforts which Member States and the institutions make to tackle the very many challenges now confronting the EU.

The Government has been following closely recent developments in Hungary. In the EU context these are of course matters in the first instance for the European Commission, which is charged with ensuring the application of the treaties and is responsible for promoting the general interest of the Union.

The question of the legislation adopted this week by the Hungarian government has been raised within the European Commission. I also understand that the European Parliament will hold a debate on the current situation in Hungary, which is scheduled for 26 April.

The issues which have been raised also fall very much within the human rights remit of the Council of Europe.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps other than statements of condemnation which have been taken or will be taken at EU and international level against the preparators of the chemical attack in Idlib, Syria, which is a violation of International law; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deaths of at least 52 adults and 20 children due to sarin and chlorine gas exposure in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria (details supplied); and if his department will play a role in an investigation of this incident..
- Seán Crowe.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.
Ref No: 18298/17 Lottery: 34

REPLY
I propose to take questions 57 and 60 together.
I was horrified to learn of the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun last week which killed scores of civilians and seriously injured many more. The attack was simply barbaric, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families. I condemn unreservedly the attack and those responsible.
The attack further underlines the need for accountability and a genuine political transition in Syria. The search for a sustainable peaceful resolution to the conflict, and, as part of that, ensuring full legal accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria, is an international priority for Ireland.
Ireland’s response goes far beyond statements. Ireland is a strong and consistent supporter of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) whose Fact Finding Mission (FFM) was set up in 2014 to “establish facts surrounding allegations of the use of toxic chemicals, reportedly chlorine, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic”. We support their work financially with annual contributions amounting to nearly €1million since 2014.  In addition, my Department has contributed €200,000 specifically to the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mission to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria. 
More broadly, Ireland also supports the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry established in August 2011 by the Human Rights Council to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in Syria.  Furthermore, in December, Ireland and a group of likeminded countries successfully pressed for the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly to establish an International Impartial and Independent Mechanism to investigate and prosecute all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. My Department is currently considering how best Ireland can continue to support the work of the Mechanism.
Ireland also supports EU sanctions targeting the regime and its supporters, and will continue to do so as long as repression continues. The sanctions currently in place include notably an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU, export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression as well as on equipment and technology for monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications. In addition, over 200 persons and 70 entities are targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze over the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria. Last month the EU added four high-ranking Syrian military officials to the sanctions list for their role in the use of chemical weapons against civilians. 
Ireland has also supported calls for sanctions at UN level also and very much regrets that a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have established a sanctions regime, a committee and an expert panel to hold accountable those using and producing chemical weapons in Syria was not passed on 28 February. 
Ireland is not currently a member of the Security Council but is a member of the cross-regional Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group at the UN, which has framed a Code of Conduct, now supported by 112 Member States, regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.  Last week, we joined with our ACT partners in calling on all members of the Security Council to apply the Code by supporting timely and decisive action against the use of chemical weapons in Syria and not to vote against a credible draft resolution to that effect.  Ireland will continue to support all efforts to ensure a lasting peace and full accountability for war crimes in Syria. 
The principles and values underlining this support are important motivating factors for Ireland’s candidature for election to the Security Council for the 2021-2022 term when we hope to bring Ireland’s voice to the Council’s table.

​To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the rights of 1.8 million persons in Northern Ireland to EU citizenship under the Good Friday Agreement will be protected in full post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

REPLY

As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected through the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall balance of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union.  All provisions of the Agreement must be respected, including the fundamental provisions on citizenship and identity.

Under Irish citizenship law the vast majority of people born on the island of Ireland – including those born in the six counties of Northern Ireland are entitled to Irish citizenship. The Good Friday Agreement further provides that the people of Northern Ireland have the right to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British or both, and that the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship would not be affected by any future change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. It is important to state that this provision is and will remain unaffected by the UK decision to leave the European Union. Persons who are citizens of Ireland, and therefore also EU citizens, after Brexit will retain their right to EU citizenship and the entitlements that flow from this under EU law.

In the forthcoming EU-UK negotiations, the Government will work to ensure that the continuing EU citizenship of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland can be sustained in a way that is consistent with their unique situation.  In this regard, we should be clear that the UK Government also has a major role and responsibility in upholding the letter and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, regardless of the UK’s status within the European Union. The Government has made this point to the UK Government on a number of occasions, and will continue to do so. 

As part of my engagement with the Secretary of State and with each of the parties in the discussions in recent weeks, I have strongly emphasised the critical importance of forming a new Executive so that Northern Ireland’s interests can be effectively represented, as part of the process of the EU-UK negotiations which are about to commence. I very much hope that the necessary agreement between the parties will be reached on formation of the Executive as soon as possible, so that it can directly represent the interests of the people of Northern Ireland in these negotiations which are of major significance.

Since the outcome of the referendum in the UK, the Government has been extremely clear that all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement must be recognised and respected following the UK’s departure from the European Union. We have engaged extensively with all EU Member States and EU Institutions on this priority, as part of our pursuit of our four headline priorities. 

There is now a very good understanding among our EU partners of the importance of the Good Friday Agreement for the peace process and for the people of this island. This is reflected in the inclusion of specific references to Ireland’s priorities in the EU Council draft negotiating guidelines and the Brexit resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 5 April. The extensive political and diplomatic engagement of recent months has been effective in ensuring recognition of our unique circumstances and specific issues.

That does not mean we can be complacent.  In the negotiations, the Government will pursue, together with our EU partners, an outcome that protects our headline priorities and Ireland’s fundamental interests, including to ensure respect for all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. We are not under any illusions about the challenge and complexity of these negotiations and have engaged in detailed and ongoing planning to prepare for them.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to formally recognise the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017.

REPLY
As I have reported to the House, I am keeping under continuous review whether the immediate recognition by Ireland of a state of Palestine, prior to its real achievement on the ground, could be a helpful step towards the goal of resolving the conflict.  And, if so, when that might have the greatest impact.
My two visits to the region have contributed to that ongoing consideration, and I have discussed the question with both local leaders and EU colleagues. 
The motions passed by the Dáil and the Seanad in this regard in 2014 are obviously important factors, but ultimately this is a decision for the Government, and there are many factors to take into account, both positive and negative.
I am also acutely conscious that the situation on the ground has continued to deteriorate, and efforts to reanimate the political process have not yet been successful. I have condemned a number of recent negative actions, including announcements of settlement construction.


I am continuing to weigh these and other factors in relation to recognition on an ongoing basis. 

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his most recent meeting at the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

REPLY
I attended the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 3 April where Syria, Yemen and Libya were on the agenda. My EU counterparts and I also met with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Abou El Gheit.
The conflict in Syria is causing untold suffering and displacement of civilians on the ground. At the Council meeting, I and my EU counterparts condemned once again the continued systematic, widespread and gross violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by all parties, especially the Syrian regime.  We made clear that the Syrian regime has the primary responsibility for the protection of the Syrian population, and call upon the regime and its allies, notably Russia, to undertake all efforts to ensure a full cessation of hostilities; the lifting of sieges; and full unhindered sustainable country-wide humanitarian access. 

Ireland's humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Syria crisis reached €76 million as of March 2017, and we pledged a further €25 million at the recent conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” which was held in Brussels on Wednesday 5 April.  This is Irish Aid's largest response to a single crisis in recent years, which is indicative of the level of priority we attach to the issue. 
EU Foreign Ministers also discussed the severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which is also of grave concern. I have previously discussed Yemen with my counterparts in the Gulf region, and raised concerns about the humanitarian situation and attacks which have directly impacted on civilians.  I and my EU colleagues reiterated our strong support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to achieve a resumption of negotiations and called on all parties to urgently agree on a cessation of hostilities to be monitored by the UN as a first step towards the resumption of peace talks under UN leadership. Ireland has provided almost €6 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen since the conflict began and will maintain our support in 2017.
The Council also discussed the political situation in Libya, and the urgent need for a political solution that would unite the country under the Libyan Peace Agreement.
This was the first meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council since the UK formally triggered Article 50 on 29 March and the circulation of the draft negotiation guidelines on 31 March.  I continued my extensive engagement with EU counterparts by having bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Austria respectively to discuss ongoing preparations for the upcoming Brexit negotiations and Ireland’s priority issues,  namely the economy, Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area and our vision for the future of the EU.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the commitments the government has made in terms of accepting refugees and unaccompanied minors here; the number of persons to date that have been accepted here under the various resettlement and relocation programmes, in tabular form; the number of unaccompanied minors that have arrived here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                             - Darragh O'Brien

  
REPLY.
​
Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (David Stanton)
As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.  Under this programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into the State, 2,622 through the EU  relocation mechanism established by two EU Council Decisions in 2015 to assist Italy and Greece, and 1,040 (519 by the end of 2016 and the remainder in 2017) under the UNHCR-led refugee resettlement programme currently focussed on resettling Syrian refugees from Lebanon. 

In a further gesture of humanitarian assistance towards the most vulnerable caught up in the migration crisis and following a debate in the Dáil, the Government also committed to taking up to 200 unaccompanied minors (UAMs) from France who were previously resident in the migrant camp at Calais. Twenty-one UAMs have thus far arrived in Ireland under this initiative and are in the care of Tusla.   These initiatives therefore leave just a small residual balance to be allocated from the Government decision to take 4,000 persons.

In summary, to the end of March 2017, the numbers of persons that have arrived under both the programme refugee resettlement strand and the relocated asylum seeker strands of the programme are set out below in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively:

Table 1: Programme Refugees
Total People    Adults    Minors    Age 0-4    Age 5-12    Age 13-17
627    310    362    111    197    54


Table 2: Relocated Asylum Seekers
Total People    Adults    Minors    Age 0-4    Age 5-12    Age 13-17
380    219    161    59    76    26

Further numbers will of course arrive under the relocation programme over the coming months. Full details on the two primary strands of the programme are set out below for the information of the Deputy.

Resettlement strand of the programme
Taking account of the situation in the Middle East, and the plight of the refugees, the Tánaiste announced that Ireland would accept 520 persons for resettlement over an 18-month period to the end of 2017.  This was almost double the figure proposed for Ireland by the European Commission and was delivered a year ahead of the Commission deadline.   

In addition, the Government recently announced that it is extending the resettlement programme to take in a further 520 refugees from Lebanon in 2017, most of whom are of Syrian origin. 260 refugees have already been selected during a selection mission to Lebanon in October 2016. 152 have arrived with remaining due in the coming weeks. Most of these refugees are also Syrian. A further selection mission to Lebanon is taking place to select the remaining refugees due to come to Ireland in 2017 under the resettlement programme. 

     Relocation strand of the programme
Despite initial delays outside of Ireland's control in respect of the operation of the 'hotspots' on the ground in Greece, Ireland has to-date taken in a total of 380 people from Greece under relocation. A monthly schedule has been agreed with the Greek authorities which will sustain the pace of intakes throughout 2017 at the levels required to allow Ireland to meets its commitments to Greece within the time frame envisaged by the Programme. 

Ireland has agreed to take up to 20 UAMs under the IRPP.  Fundamentally, Ireland's capacity to take UAMs is determined by Tusla, the child and family agency. 6 UAMs (by the Irish definition) have arrived in Ireland from Greece under the programme. However, relatively few UAMs appear to be available within the cohort eligible for relocation and efforts continue to seek further transfers within this cohort.  All UAMs that have arrived to-date are in the care of Tusla. 

As regards Italy, the relocation mechanism from Italy has yet to commence for many countries, including Ireland, due to issues with the Italian authorities  surrounding the security assessment of migrants assigned to other Member States. Intensive efforts are ongoing to resolve this, both bilaterally with Italian  counterparts at official, diplomatic and Ministerial level, and at EU level, including through the European Commission and it is hoped that a resolution can be found in the coming weeks.

The total target for relocation EU-wide in the two Council Decisions for relocation also includes an allocated portion which in the case of Ireland   amounts to  910 persons. These numbers have not yet been allocated as between Greece and Italy.  It is understood that the European    Commission are examining allocating this "unassigned" portion and if they do Ireland will immediately work towards relocating them. 

Table 3 below sets out the position regarding the assignment of the 4,000. 

Table 3: Table of Total Numbers under Government Decision
Relocation Strand     Numbers
Council Decision 2015/1523    600
Council Decision 2015/1601     2,022
Total Relocation    2,622
    
Resettlement Strand    
Government Decision 09/06/15    520
Government Decision 06/07/16    260
Government Decision 29/11/16    260
Total Resettlement    1,040
    
Total Unaccompanied Minors Calais (Government Decision 10/11/16)    200 (up to)
    
Mechanism as yet undecided    138
    
Grand Total    4000

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reverse the decline in the percentage of GDP allocated to overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

​

REPLY
(Minister of State, Mr. Joe McHugh T.D.) 
The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy.  In the Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target as resources permit.  I  have  consistently stated that  progress needs to be made in a sustainable and manageable way, which continues to strengthen Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger.   
Yesterday, the OECD published the official ODA figures for 2016.   I am pleased to report that Ireland’s total contribution to ODA in 2016, increased by some 12 % on the 2015 levels, to €725 million. This is the third consecutive year of growth in the ODA volumes, and is a very clear demonstration of this Government’s commitment to increasing resources to our Aid Programme as economic conditions allow.  The OECD also confirmed that we last year reversed the trend of a declining ODA / GNP percentage.  Ireland’s percentage rose to 0.33% for 2016, up from 0.32% in 2015.
The challenge now is to continue to make sustained, manageable progress in meeting our commitment towards moving towards the UN target, while ensuring our aid programme continues to focus relentlessly on the core objectives of eradicating global hunger, reducing extreme poverty and providing humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. 

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of foreign birth registrations from 2012 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

REPLY
Foreign Birth registration is a process detailed in Irish legislation whereby a person born outside the island of Ireland, who has a parent who is an Irish citizen but who was also born outside the island, can be registered on the Foreign Births Register in order for him/her to obtain Irish citizenship.  Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register by my Department they are an Irish citizen and therefore entitled to apply for an Irish passport.

The table below details the number of Foreign Births Registration Certificates issued by my Department since 8 October, 2012 when the Náisiún processing system was introduced. There are difficulties in providing comprehensive and accurate statistics prior to that date. 

At the beginning of this year, my Department allocated extra temporary resources to deal with the significant increase in the volume of applications that have been received since the middle of 2016.  This deployment resulted in a significant increase in Foreign Births Registration Certificates issued in the first quarter of 2017.  We continue to process a large volume of applications, with a particularly high continuing volume of applications being received by our Embassy in London.

Foreign Births Registration Certificates issued 
2012(from 8 October 2012)    754
2013    5056
2014    6127
2015    5826
2016    8519
2017 (to 31 March 2017)    5901

​To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the current political situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.

REPLY

Following the Assembly election, I spoke on 5 March with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Taoiseach spoke with Prime Minister May. Both Governments agreed on the need for intensive engagement to address outstanding issues and commitments to ensure the early establishment of an Executive. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have a role to play in supporting the effective operation of the devolved institutions, and in upholding both the letter and the spirit of the Agreement as a whole, in the interests of all in Northern Ireland.

In this context I am representing the Government in the ongoing intensive talks in Belfast. The talks have two objectives. Firstly, to allow the political parties to reach an agreement on the formation of a new Executive. Secondly, to address the implementation of outstanding issues from previous Agreements. These current discussions structured around a shared approach put forward by both Governments follow on from talks last month where it did not prove possible for the political parties in Northern Ireland to reach agreement on the establishment of a power-sharing Executive before the statutory deadline of 27 March.  

Overall there is encouraging progress being made in this renewed phase but I am under no illusions about the challenge of resolving the core issues that remain outstanding. Serious issues remain to be resolved - including those which were to the fore before the collapse of the last Executive and during the election campaign. However with resolve and determination from all the parties, and support and encouragement from the two Governments, I believe a successful outcome is possible.

As part of my engagement with the Secretary of State and with each of the parties in the discussions in recent days, I have strongly emphasised the critical importance of forming a new Executive so that Northern Ireland’s interests can be effectively represented, as part of the process of the EU-UK negotiations which are about to commence. I very much hope that the new Executive will be in place as soon as possible so that it can directly represent the interests of the people of Northern Ireland in these negotiations which are of major significance.

I will continue to participate in the discussions in Belfast this week as required, working with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties to see the power-sharing Assembly and Executive restored to effective and harmonious operation. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement the Government is determined to uphold the principles of the Agreement and protect its institutions.

While time is extremely tight, I remain hopeful of a positive outcome to the discussions, and strongly urge all parties to work intensively and cooperatively, to secure the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, and ensure effective devolved government, as was so evidently voted for by the people in Northern Ireland in the recent election.