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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Question:

229 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the way in which the review mechanism, contained within the Good Friday Agreement, can be put into effect; and the discussions he has had with the British Government on this issue. [1019/01]

In its "Validation, Implementation and Review" section, the agreement puts in place review mechanisms to address difficulties which may arise in different circumstances. It states that:

Each institution may, at any time, review any problems that may arise in its operation..;
If there are difficulties in the operation of a particular institution, which have implications for another institution, they may review their operations separately and jointly..;
and
If difficulties arise which require remedial action across the range of institutions, or otherwise require amendment of the British-Irish Agreement or relevant legislation, the process of review will fall to the two Governments in consultation with the parties in the Assembly.
The institutions themselves can initiate a review to address difficulties arising in their own operation. In the case of difficulties arising across a range of institutions, it falls to the two Governments to put the process of review into effect.
Since the restoration of the operation of the Executive and Assembly last May, I have not discussed these matters with the British Government. The Deputy may also wish to be aware that in their statement issued at Hillsborough on 5 May 2000, the two Governments stated:
If difficulties arise in the implementation of the Agreement (for example, the IICD reports that it does not believe that arms will be put beyond use, or the institutions are not operating in good faith as envisaged in the Agreement), the two Governments will, in consultation with the Assembly and the Executive, carry out an immediate formal review under the terms of the Agreement.

Question:

230 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council that have taken place since its initial meeting in Armagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1020/01]

There have been 24 meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council since its inception on 2 December 1999. Following is a full list of these meetings. Two of them have been in the plenary format – at Armagh on 13 December 1999 and in Dublin on 26 September 2000. The remaining 22 meetings have been in what is called the sectoral format of the Council. There are 12 sectors in all, each of them covering one of the 12 areas agreed in the Good Friday Agreement and in the subsequent negotiations between the two Governments and the Northern Ireland parties, as constituting the remit of the Council. At the inaugural plenary meeting in Armagh in December 1999, it was agreed that the Council would meet in sectoral format to consider issues relating to: Implementation Bodies – Waterways Ireland; Food Safety Promotion Board; Special EU Programmes Body; North/South Language Body; Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission; Trade and Business Development Body. Areas for co-operation are transport, agriculture, education, health, environment and tourism.

The work of all these sectors is now well under way and the Government is pleased with the solid progress made. The NSMC itself is working well and the Government is very encouraged by the positive spirit in which all of the meetings have taken place. The Government regrets that, due to the action mandated by the Ulster Unionist Council on 28 October 2000, it has not been possible to hold NSMC meetings in the education and health/food safety formats since that date.

The Implementation Bodies are up and running and the process of appointing permanent chief executives and other staff is well advanced. The new all-island tourism company, Tourism Ireland, has also been established. The Government believes these institutions have a critically important role to play in the development of co-operation between North and South, to the mutual benefit of both parts of the island. That is why it attaches such importance to the resolution of the remaining difficulties, concerning the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, so that the North-South institutions can proceed on a fully inclusive basis and discharge their very real potential for the benefit of all of the people on this island.

Schedule of North/South Ministerial Council Meetings

Date

Meeting

Location

13 December 1999

Plenary

Armagh

24 January 2000

Trade and Business Development

Newry

3 February 2000

Education

Dublin

4 February 2000

Food Safety and Health Co-operation

Belfast

9 February 2000

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission

Derry

16 June 2000

Special EU Programmes

Dublin

21 June 2000

Inland Waterways

Belfast

21 June 2000

Language

Belfast

26 June 2000

Agriculture

Dublin

28 June 2000

Environment

Belfast

30 June 2000

Trade and Business Development

Dublin

3 July 2000

Education

Cultra, Belfast

4 July 2000

Food Safety and Health Co-operation

Dublin

5 July 2000

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission

Dublin

26 September

Plenary

Dublin

23 October 2000

Environment

Navan

Date

Meeting

Location

27 October 2000

Trade and Business Development

Belfast

27 October 2000

Tourism

Belfast

10 November 2000

Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission

Co. Down

15 November 2000

Special EU Programmes

Omagh

17 November 2000

Agriculture

Antrim

5 December 2000

Language

Dublin

19 December 2000

Transport

Belfast

29 January 2001

Inland Waterways

Scarriff

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