Vol. 577 No. 1
50 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the prospects for political progress in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Assembly elections; his plans to meet the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties in Northern Ireland to discuss the current situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30496/03]
I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 1.
51 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposed procedures for the review of the British-Irish Agreement; when the review is expected to commence; when he expects it to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30497/03]
The Good Friday Agreement, in paragraph 8 of the section entitled ‘Validation, Implementation and Review', states that "the two Governments and the parties in the Assembly will convene a conference four years after the agreement comes into effect, to review and report on its operation". During the discussions leading to the Joint Declaration, a number of pro-agreement parties tabled proposals for change in the operation of the agreement, for instance, in regard to the voting and designation arrangements in the Northern Ireland Assembly and in the nomination arrangements for attendance at meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council.
In accordance with a commitment given in the Joint Declaration, the two Governments have jointly written to the parties in the Assembly seeking their views on the conduct and agenda of the review. In the light of the responses received, the two Governments will in January finalise proposals, including a suggested timeframe, for undertaking the review. Both Governments have stressed that the review will be of the operation of the agreement, not of its fundamentals.
