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Simon Coveney has stressed the need to fully implement stalled legacy mechanisms during his first official meeting with Northern Ireland\u2019s new secretary of state.<\/p>\nSimon Coveney has stressed the need to fully implement stalled legacy mechanisms during his first official meeting with Northern Ireland\u2019s new secretary of state.<\/p>\n
The T\u00e1naiste and Brandon Lewis held talks at Stormont House in Belfast on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The deal that saw the restoration of power-sharing in Northern Ireland included a pledge by the UK government to legislate to implement a series of mechanisms to deal with the toxic legacy of the Troubles.<\/p>\n
The measures have been on ice since they were first agreed by the two governments and the region\u2019s main parties in the Stormont House Agreement of 2014.<\/p>\n
While January\u2019s New Decade, New Approach deal included a commitment to legislate within 100 days, the fate of the structures remains uncertain as the UK government comes under pressure from backbenchers over a proposed new investigations unit whose remit would include the actions of military veterans.<\/p>\n
There was speculation that former secretary of state Julian Smith was sacked by Boris Johnson over this issue.<\/p>\n
Last week, in his first full day in the job, Mr Lewis insisted he was committed to implementing the Stormont House proposals.<\/p>\n
After their meeting on Friday, Mr Coveney described the exchanges as \u201cgood and cordial\u201d and said Mr Lewis was someone who was \u201ceasy to get along with\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he raised the issue of outstanding legacy mechanisms and stressed the need for action.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike his predecessor, it\u2019s really important that the two governments work together closely on a lot of very awkward and difficult political issues,\u201d said Mr Coveney.<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of the domestic challenges here in Northern Ireland I think are going to be very challenging for the new Secretary of State and I want to work with him on that, in particular in relation to legacy \u2013 the legacy of the past, how we deal with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an agreement of course \u2013 the British and Irish governments in Stormont House.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I spoke to him today about the need to implement that agreement in full and I think we\u2019re going to work on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The visit comes weeks after Mr Coveney helped secure the New Decade, New Approach deal with Mr Smith.<\/p>\n
It is Mr Coveney\u2019s first visit to Belfast since his Fine Gael party suffered major losses in the general election.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney will remain as caretaker T\u00e1naiste until he is replaced but it could take some time before a new government is in place in the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n