Seán Crowe TD has today criticised Minister Charlie Flanagan on the failure of the Irish and British Governments to implement outstanding commitments in the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreement.

Crowe is a member of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Crowe said:

 “Consensus on the Stormont House Agreement was reached due to, in no small part, the hard work and experience of Sinn Féin negotiators. Sinn Féin has been consistently clear in their objectives of instilling equality in the lives and rights of citizens north and south.

“However, there has been a failure by the Irish Government to uphold outstanding commitments in relation to the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreements.  This includes the failure to implement an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane as well agreeing to the British government’s use of ‘national security’ to deny information to victims and their families.

“A civil inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings continues to be sidelined. The Acht Gaeilge continues to be ignored. There has been no movement on a bill of rights. There are no plans or strategies to address these outstanding matters of critical importance.

“The basis of political progress is that an agreement is implemented. It is clear that the two governments have not made real efforts to either implement or safeguard the agreements. The Irish Government as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement has a critical part to play.

“The Irish Government must have a clear strategy for the full implementation of all outstanding elements of previous agreements. Failure to do so shows a disregard to the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreement and the obligations which all parties, including the two Governments, signed up to.”

ENDS