Irish foreign minister to meet Troubles victims and politicians in Belfast visit

The Irish foreign minister will visit Belfast to meet party leaders and representatives from Troubles victims’ and survivors’ groups.

Helen McEntee will meet with the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, DUP MLA Edwin Poots, on her visit to the region on Wednesday, which she says has been a “priority” for her since taking up her current role in November 2025.

Ms McEntee, who is also deputy leader of Fine Gael, was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the reshuffle that occurred after Paschal Donohoe resigned as Finance minister to take up a position at the World Bank.

She will also meet with Alliance Party leader and Minister for Justice, Naomi Long, UUP leader and Minister for Health, Mike Nesbitt, and SDLP leader of the opposition at Stormont, Matthew O’Toole.

The minister will go on to visit St Malachy’s College, which has received funding through the Government’s Reconciliation Fund.

Ms McEntee said the engagements in Northern Ireland “are an important opportunity to discuss current priorities and shared challenges”.

“Those include our ongoing work to address the legacy of the Troubles, the Shared Island Initiative, and the essential work of promoting reconciliation on the island,” she said.

“Northern Ireland was a focus for me as Minister for Justice, including legacy issues. That is why one of my immediate priorities upon taking up office is to hear from victims’ and survivors’ groups.

“Their views are vital as we work to put in place mechanisms that can provide truth, accountability, and, where possible, justice for victims and survivors.”