Statement following the New Decade, New Approach Implementation Review Meeting

Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State and leaders of the DUP, SF, SDLP, Alliance Party following the New Decade, New Approach Implementation Review Meeting

The first Implementation Review Meeting of the New Decade, New Approach agreement was held today by videoconference, with the participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, and the leaders of the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive.

On the anniversary of the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, the participants discussed the progress that has been made over the past year by the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly and in the North/South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council.

The participants also discussed the context of the unprecedented challenge for the entire Executive, as well as for the UK and Irish Governments, in responding to a global pandemic and both its public health and economic impacts.

In light of these challenges, the participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring the sustainable and effective operation of all the devolved institutions to ensure that the interests of the people of Northern Ireland are served by their democratically elected leaders, and committed themselves to the ongoing implementation of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.