Vol. 524 No. 3
37 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the need to establish a joint parliamentary forum between the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas as set out in the Good Friday Agreement; the discussions that have taken place between the Government, other parties in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the First and Deputy First Ministers on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21262/00]
Paragraph 18 of Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement provides for: "The Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas to consider developing a joint parliamentary forum, bringing together equal numbers from both institutions for discussions of matters of mutual interest and concern."
While the establishment of the forum is, of course, for the two legislatures to decide upon, the Government would strongly encourage and support such an initiative. I suggested to the Ceann Comhairle that the time might now be opportune for consideration of the matter within the Oireachtas, with a view to opening discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Ceann Comhairle recently advised me that, in regard to the Dáil, the best way of taking this matter forward would be through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on foot of a proposal from the Government Chief Whip.
On a separate but related matter, paragraph 11 of Strand 3 of the Good Friday Agreement provided that the elected institutions of the members of the British-Irish Council would be encouraged to develop interparliamentary links, perhaps building on the existing British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body. As the Deputy will be aware, the Body had an opportunity to consider this matter at its recent plenary meeting in Galway.
Question No. 38 taken with Question No. 9.
