John Perry
Question:51 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance if there is an investment fund planned for the Border counties on foot of strand 2 of the British-Irish Agreement. [20591/98]
Vol. 496 No. 6
51 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance if there is an investment fund planned for the Border counties on foot of strand 2 of the British-Irish Agreement. [20591/98]
62 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Finance the role, if any, he will have in the establishing and functioning of North-South bodies set up under the British-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23697/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 62 together.
Officials of my Department are participating in inter-departmental work on the implementation of the British-Irish Agreement, with particular reference to the establishment of North-South implementation bodies. They are particularly involved in discussions, including with British colleagues, on so-called horizontal issues, such as funding, staffing, accounting and audit arrangements.
In addition, if it were agreed to establish an EU programmes implementation body — this is one possibility listed in the Agreement — my Department would be directly involved.