asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date of the Anglo-Irish Conference; if he is satisfied with this progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Anglo-Irish Conference.
14.
The Anglo-Irish Conference has met eight times since the coming into effect of the agreement last year. There have also been two special ministerial meetings within the framework of the agreement. The conference has given detailed consideration to the matters covered in the agreement. The conference is served on a continuing basis by the secretarial in Belfast. The secretariat prepares for the meetings of the conference and provides a day to day channel of communication between the two Governments on matters of interest to nationalists in Northern Ireland. The joint statements issued after the meetings of the conference have been placed before the House.
There has been progress on a board range of issues. These include the use of flags and emblems, Irish language and culture, electoral arrangements, the rights of nationalists including equality of opportunity in employment, the role and composition of public bodies in Northern Ireland, the establishment of the International Fund for Ireland, cross-Border co-operation in economic, social and cultural matters, and major policy issues of interest to nationalists such as housing in Northern Ireland.
The Intergovernmental Conference has dealt with security policy including cross-Border security and relations between the security forces and the community and the legal system including the administration of justice. A new improved police complaints procedure has been announced and there has been progress in the implementation of the principle that there is a police presence in all operations which involve direct contact between the community and the armed forces including the Ulster Defence Regiment. In the administration of justice, a number of changes to the Emergency Provisions Act have been made or announced, these include the further descheduling of offences and improvements in the position as regards the granting of bail, the rights of suspects in custody and police powers of search and arrest.
Thus there has been real progress across a broad range of issues. However, I do not maintain that this progress has been adequate. It is my intention to ensure that further progress is made as quickly as possible in all the areas covered by the agreement.