Vol. 405 No. 4
3 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the nature and role of the Northern Ireland and International Division of his Department; the staffing by number and grade of those assigned there; the differences in role in relation to the Northern Ireland division in his Department and that of the Department of Foreign Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Policy on Northern Ireland is and has, for many years, been primarily the responsibility of the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach, as Head of Government, also has substantial responsibilities for the State's international relations, not least those involving the European Community. A major focal point for this involvement is the European Council of Heads of State or Government of the Community which met four times in 1990, including two meetings under my chairmanship during the Irish Presidency.
Under this Government, the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, has special responsibility for the co-ordination of European Community matters.
The role of the Northern Ireland and International Division of my Department is to advise and brief me and the Minister of State in these matters. The current staffing of the division comprises one assistant secretary, two principals, one assistant principal, one higher executive officer and three clerical assistants. It reports to the Secretary to the Government who also heads the Government Secretariat and General Division.
Policy on Northern Ireland also, of course, involves the Minister for Foreign Affairs who is, with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Joint Chairman of the Anglo-Irish Inter-governmental Conference established under the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985. The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs reflects these and the other responsibilities in this area.
