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]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
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:
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 |