The programme for Government has an extensive number of commitments on Northern Ireland. It refers the role of the Government as the co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and it commits to working with the British Government on the implementation of commitments made under previous Governments. Tomorrow, Westminster will begin to debate a Bill to set a budget for Northern Ireland. It has been reported today that the Irish Government has requested a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference be convened and that Ireland would expect a consultative role should this happen. Today's The Times Ireland edition reports that Prime Minister May's Government is "stalling" on that issue. Will the Tánaiste indicate if the Irish Government has requested the convening of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference? If it has requested this, what is the response of the British Government to date?

I speak to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, at lot with regard to Northern Ireland. When I last spoke with her it was in advance of her speaking in Westminster and giving an update on Northern Ireland. I told Ms Bradley that I would like her to consider a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. I felt it would be appropriate at this stage to have that structure enacted so both Governments could formally discuss the various options they need to consider around a budget for Northern Ireland, how we take our next steps getting a devolved Government back up and running in Northern Ireland and other practical issues that can and should be raised on an east-west basis between the two Governments. I have not yet had a response to this proposal. Ms Bradley has said she wants to think about it, which is perfectly reasonable. Ms Bradley has subsequently been-----

The budget for Northern Ireland is to be discussed tomorrow.

-----to Washington and was quite busy there. I will go to Belfast tomorrow to meet with some of the parties. I expect to speak with the Secretary of State again before the end of the week. We will update the conversation when we speak again.