Vol. 542 No. 2
122 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he will establish the North-South independent consultative forum which the Government was committed to consider under the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23730/01]
The Good Friday Agreement provided that consideration be given to the establishment of an independent consultative forum, appointed by the two administrations, North and South, and representative of civil society on the island. In addition, under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the Government gave a commitment to work for the early establishment of this forum. The Government also recognises that there is no predetermined outcome to the process of consideration mandated by the agreement. Accordingly, this matter can only be progressed in full partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive.
At the last plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, held in Dublin on 26 September 2000, the council agreed that a joint North-South working group, comprising officials of both administrations, be tasked with studying the establishment of the forum and reporting to the next plenary. The work of the joint working group is well advanced and a report will be made to the next plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, when convened. It will then be up to the council to decide how to proceed.
In regard to the timing of the next plenary meeting of the NSMC, the package put to the parties on 1 August, following the discussions at Weston Park, proposes the fixing of a date for this meeting within one month of the agreement of the parties to these proposals.
Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 114.
