HL Deb 09 January 2003 vol 642 cc230-1WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (WA127), who are the parties to the Belfast Agreement, what are the obligations of the Irish Government under the Belfast Agreement; and to what extent, if at all, they consider that the Irish Government have honoured their obligations. [HL257]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The parties to the Belfast Agreement are those political parties represented in the negotiations that took place between 1996 and 1998 who remained at the conclusion of the talks and made clear their support for the agreement, along with the British and Irish Governments. The obligations of the Irish Government are as set out in the agreement (and there are other obligations on the two governments in the international agreement concluded at the same time). The Belfast Agreement is still in the course of fulfilment, but we believe that the Irish Government, like the British, have made very substantial headway in meeting their obligations.