Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 4

Written Answers. - British-Irish Agreement.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

87 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress, if any, made recently in resolving the impasse over the establishment of cross-Border institutions arising from the British-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27278/98]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, being made under the British-Irish Agreement in relation to the establishment of North-South bodies. [27281/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

The British-Irish Agreement provides for the establishment of a North-South Ministerial Council and at least six implementation bodies as part of the interlocking institutional arrangements which will be brought into being on the entry into force of the Agreement. Consideration is also to be given to a joint North-South parliamentary forum and an independent North-South consultative forum. It is likely, however, that this would occur after the establishment of the other institutions.

It was envisaged that the North-South Ministerial Council would meet initially in shadow or transitional form, with two main purposes: (a) to consider its own futuremodus operandi and (b) to agree and identify the areas in which implementation bodies are to be established to implement on an all-island and cross-Border basis policies agreed in the Council, and at least six other areas for co-operation through existing bodies, North and South. However, given the failure so far to agree on the establishment of a Shadow Northern Ireland Executive, it has not been possible for the North-South Ministerial Council to meet in shadow form. Nevertheless, informal work has been under way between officials on the possible detailed procedures of the Council.

Agreement was reached on 18 December on areas for co-operation and implementation, including in regard to the identification of the six implementation bodies and six other matters for co-operation. This agreement was part of the interim report of the First and Deputy First Minister which was endorsed by the Assembly at its meeting on 18 January. The two Governments, accordingly, take the view that they can have sufficient confidence to proceed, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, with the necessary legislative and other arrangements required to establish the implementation bodies and to enable them to function as and from the entry into force of the Agreement as a whole. Intensive and detailed work is continuing at official level and in consultation with the Northern parties.

It is the intention that the bodies would be established by supplementary international agreement between the two Governments, and that the legislation required to enable them to operate in this jurisdiction would, probably, be introduced in the Oireachtas early next month, in parallel with the processing of the necessary Westminster legislation. The aim would be to permit the entry into force of the Agreement and, therefore, the establishment of all the institutions, including the implementation bodies, shortly afterwards, in accordance with the timetable envisaged. However, this timetable is, clearly, dependent on the resolution of the continuing political difficulties surrounding the creation of a Northern Ireland Executive.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

89 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress, if any, being made under the British-Irish Agreement in relation to the distribution of Executive seats in the proposed new Northern Ireland Assembly. [27282/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The Northern Ireland Assembly at its first meeting on 1 July 1998 elected David Trimble and Séamus Mallon as the designated First and Deputy First Ministers respectively. It was also agreed that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister would draw up a report on the number and demarcation of Government Departments envisaged for the new Northern Ireland Executive. General agreement on ten Government Departments and their responsibilities was reached on 18 December 1998. The Assembly approved the interim report of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 18 January this year.

It is expected that a final report will be put to the Assembly on 15 February for endorsement. When adopted, it will be necessary, before the shadow Executive can be created, for the Northern Ireland Secretary of State to issue the necessary Standing Orders for the d'Hondt system to be triggered. The latter, as stipulated in the British-Irish Agreement, is the system whereby seats on the Executive are allocated to parties in proportion to the number of seats they hold in the Assembly. The Secretary of State has identified 10 March as a target date by which time all the arrangements necessary for the devolution of powers to Northern Ireland should be in place.