Trevor Sargent
Question:37 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the IRA is a party to the British-Irish Agreement. [24373/98]
Written Answers. - British-Irish Agreement.
The British-Irish Agreement, which was signed on 10 April 1998, was the outcome of negotiations between the Irish and British Government and those political parties in Northern Ireland which qualified under the Northern Ireland (Entry into Negotiations etc.) Act, 1996, to take part in the multi-party talks.
Legally, it is the two Governments which are the parties to the British-Irish Agreement. Annexed to the British-Irish Agreement is the Multi-Party Agreement which was adopted at the final plenary session of the talks. Those present at the plenary were the two Governments, the Ulster Unionist Party, UUP, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, APNI, the Progressive Unionist Party, PUP, the Ulster Democratic Party, UDP, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, NIWC, and the Northen Ireland Labour Coalition, NILC.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:38 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the British-Irish Council provided for in the British-Irish Agreement will be established; when the first meeting will be held; when the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Maryfield will be closed; the plans, if any, he has for redeployment of staff serving there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27547/98]
The establishment of the British Irish Council, along with the North-South Ministerial Council, the North-South implementation bodies, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the assumption by the Assembly of its legislative and executive functions, can only take place at the same time as the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement. It is the hope of the two Governments that, once the current difficulties are resolved, all the necessary arrangements for the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement can be speedily completed.
The Anglo-Irish Secretariat, which was established under the Anglo-Irish Agreement will cease to exist on the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement and the transfer of powers to the new institutions, including the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and its standing joint Secretariat. The Anglo-Irish Secretariat, including its staff, will be relocated from Mary-field before the end of the year.