Vol. 506 No. 5
105 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the further consideration, if any, he will give to the proposal to locate the headquarters of one of the new North-South implementation bodies in County Cavan as discussed at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on 16 June 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16019/99]
As I indicated to the Deputy at the meeting on 16 June of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, which considered the 1999 Estimates for the Department of Foreign Affairs, decisions have not yet been taken on the location and headquarters of the North/South implementation bodies. In arriving at these decisions, account will have to be taken of a number of factors, including any particular requirements stemming from the nature and activities of the implementation bodies and the location of staff, North and South, currently carrying out these functions.
In each case, there are a number of potentially suitable locations in both jurisdictions. However, since all decisions in this regard will be a matter collectively for the two administrations, North and South, it would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of the decision-making process by elaborating at this point on the details of individual possible locations. However, I am fully aware of the excellent case being made for Cavan as a suitable location by the Deputy, and his representations will be treated with the utmost seriousness.
