A Cavan-Monaghan TD has shared his thoughts on the 30th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration.
According to Fianna Fail's Deputy Brendan Smith, this was a "major achievement" in the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and
Ireland and laid the groundwork for the Good Friday Agreement.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Smith revealed that he was there in London on the day that the Declaration was agreed upon, 30 years ago.
While the 30th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration is an opportunity to reflect on the success of the relationship between the United
Kingdom and Ireland over the last 30 years, Deputy Smith also sees it as a "reminder of how far we still have to go" in fulfilling the promise of the
Peace Process.
As a result, he called for "urgent restoration" of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive:
Deputy Smith continued; "In particular, it is deeply regrettable that the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly are not
functioning. This in turn is an obstacle to the functioning of the North South Ministerial Council. These institutions are essential to ensuring that
peace, stability, and reconciliation embrace the totality of relationships on these islands. As Co-Chairs of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly we call for urgent restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive."
