Vol. 509 No. 6
146 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outstanding issues of the Good Friday Agreement which have been agreed in principle and have yet to be put in place, for example, the establishment of the shadow executive or implementation bodies; when these outstanding issues will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21043/99]
The implementation of many of the elements of the Good Friday Agreement is continuing; clearly, in several instances this is, and will continue to be, a phased and gradual process.
However, the continuing failure to find an agreed basis among the participants for the formation of an inclusive executive has blocked the implementation of the core institutional and constitutional aspects of the agreement. Powers have not been devolved to Northern Ireland. Consequently and additionally, it has not been possible for the two Governments to bring into force the British-Irish Agreement, which provides for the establishment of the North/South ministerial council, the six implementation bodies as agreed last March, the British-Irish council and the British-Irish intergovernmental conference. The entry into effect of the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of our Constitution, and of new British constitutional legislation, would also take place simultaneously with devolution and the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement.
Whether, and if so when, it may be possible to unblock this impasse is the subject of the continuing review of the implementation of the agreement, and in that regard I would refer the Deputy to my reply today to Priority Question No. 34.
