Continuing paramilitary activity was one of the key issues discussed at a meeting between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the United States envoy Senator Gary Hart at a meeting in Government Buildings yesterday.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan was also at the meeting which considered the deadlock between the parties in Northern Ireland which threatens the future of the power sharing institutions.

After the meeting Mr Kenny said it had provided a valuable opportunity to hear Mr Hart’s impression of the ongoing talks following his recent meetings with the Northern party leaders.

“We agreed that the current talks are the best way to resolve the differences among the parties in Northern Ireland on how to implement the Stormont House Agreement and to address the impact and legacy of paramilitarism,” said Mr Kenny.

The Taoiseach added that he had stressed the Government will continue to make every effort to secure an outcome which will safeguard the progress made to date and protect the Belfast Agreement and its institutions.

“The senator’s timely visit is a tangible expression of the US determination to support an agreement being reached. I conveyed through the Senator my gratitude to President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary Kerry for that continued interest, solidarity and support,” said Mr Kenny.

Mr Flanagan said Mr Hart had made clear that the US values the Stormont House Agreement and wants to see it fully implemented. “We share this key objective and my focus in the coming weeks will be to work for an outcome that sees the Stormont House Agreement fully implemented,” said the Minister.