asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has asked semi-State bodies to co-operate with their counterparts in Northern Ireland following the Hillsborough Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Co-operation.
9.
Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement, the Intergovernmental Conference has become the official framework for the promotion of cross-Border co-operation. The extent of the co-operation which exists is apparent from the catalogue of cross-Border social and economic co-operation which was published as an annex to the joint statement issues after the 11 March meeting of the conference, and which has already been laid before the House. Semi-State bodies are among the organisations engaged in this co-operation.
I am satisfied that the procedures established interdepartmentally to promote co-operation by Departments and semi-State bodies with their counterparts in Northern Ireland are working satisfactorily.
Has the Minister communicated directly with the semi-State bodies? Is he aware that cross-Border development committees, composed of selected representatives and executives of local authorities, are experiencing a negative response at present particularly from Bord Fáilte? Will he contact the board and ask them to co-operate with their counterpart in the Six Counties and with the cross-Border development committees to ensure that at least in the promotion of tourism we will be able to make progress?
I would be very disappointed if what the Deputy said was correct. I am sure it is not so. I do not contact semi-State bodies directly. I contact the Ministers responsible for them. I am certain that Bord Fáilte would co-operate in every way in promoting cross-Border tourism in Ireland as a whole. I would see that as a priority in bringing about reconciliation between the two parts of the country.
I wish to express my displeasure for the third time at the way in which Question Time is conducted. Backbenchers are being squeezed out. We are wasting our time. Frontbench spokesmen have a quarter of an hour for priority questions. They take up most of the time at Question Time. It is ridiculous.
Priority Question No. 23.