To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 19 January (HL3949) concerning the government of the Republic of Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement, on what basis the involvement of the Republic of Ireland is consistent with the three-stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs; when that approach was established; and in what other talks the government of the Republic of Ireland has been involved under this approach.

The three-stranded framework emerged during political negotiations in the 1990s that eventually led to the 1998 Belfast Agreement. Strand One relates to the internal affairs of Northern Ireland, Strand Two deals with relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and Strand Three relations between the UK and Irish Governments. In practice, this has meant the Government of the Republic of Ireland not being involved in negotiations relating to Strand One issues.