The Committee plays a pivotal role in informing debate on key areas of mutual interest regarding North-South co-operation. The Committee invites MPs from Northern Ireland to join all their formal meetings, and this offers an opportunity to foster better links and dialogue between parliamentarians from both sides of the Border.
The Committee works across a number of key areas including:
- Reconciliation issues such as listening to key people and groups regarding legacy issues and reaching out to diverse communities
- Commemoration issues including consideration of significant anniversaries arising over the next decade
- North-South co-operation across sectoral areas such as health, transport, education, agriculture, tourism and culture, with particular reference to the potential impact of Brexit
- Funding programmes, with a particular reference to future funding of peace related programmes
The Committee engages in informal meetings and outreach visits to Northern Ireland to help build relationships and encourage a shared understanding of all the communities and key stakeholders on both sides of the Border. It plays an important role in informing debate on key areas of mutual interest such as North-South economic co-operation, particularly in areas of tourism, transport and communications infrastructure and agriculture; reconciliation and combating sectarianism; cross-Border co-operation in policing; and Ireland-UK relations.
As part of its remit, the Committee may invite presentations from Government Ministers, State organisations from North and South, representative groups and interested individuals to hear their views and perspectives on the Good Friday Agreement and cross-Border co-operation.
Cathaoirleach
Insights from the Chair: Fergus O'Dowd
The Cathaoirleach explains how his particular committee operates on a consensus basis, detailing how the committee wishes to be proactive in trying to give everybody a voice while engaging with all parties in the North.
The Orders of reference of the Dáil Select Committee were agreed by Dáil Éireann on 23 July 2020 and amended on 21 April 2021, following report(PDF) from the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform on the 14 April 2021.
On 18 September 2020 the Establishment Order was agreed by Seanad Éireann for the Select Committee and amended on 25 September 2020. The Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight published a report amending the Order of Reference for the Committee and was agreed in the Seanad on 24 May 2021.