Gerry Adams
Question:3 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. [15354/11]
View answerTuesday, 21 June 2011
Questions (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Gerry Adams
Question:4 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will ensure that following the North-South Ministerial Council plenary there is full round of sectoral meetings in the months ahead. [15355/11]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:5 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if any progress has been made towards a formal meeting of the North-South parliamentary forum. [15356/11]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:6 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if any progress has been made towards formal meetings of the North-South civic consultative forum. [15357/11]
View answer
Micheál Martin
Question:7 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach his policy towards the North-South civic consultative forum. [16283/11]
View answerMicheál Martin
Question:8 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the outcome of the recent North-South Ministerial Council meeting. [16285/11]
View answerOral answers (19 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together.
I chaired the 12th meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Farmleigh House on Friday, 10 June last. It was the first occasion for this Government to meet collectively with the newly appointed members of the Northern Ireland Executive since the recent Northern Ireland Assembly elections. At the outset, I joined the Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, in paying tribute to former Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, who had sadly passed away that morning.
During the course of the meeting, I highlighted the commitment of this Government, and my commitment, to North-South co-operation and all-island economic co-operation. I encouraged Ministers to exchange contact details with their Northern counterparts and to keep in regular contact on matters pertinent to North-South co-operation. We had a broad-ranging economic discussion with each Administration outlining the main challenges being faced. My Ministers and I outlined the measures the Government is taking to tackle the debt problem and promote jobs and skills to tackle unemployment. We discussed the importance of innovation, research and development to economic recovery on this island. Given the budgetary constraints within which we operate, we stressed that it makes good practical sense to continue to explore areas where efficiencies and economies can be achieved by working together North and South.
I welcomed the recent confirmation by the Minister, Mr. Poots that the satellite radiotherapy facility at Altnagelvin Hospital is to proceed as planned. I confirmed the Government's strong support for the facility, which will take one third of its patients from County Donegal. Altnagelvin is an excellent example of the potential to achieve economies of scale by investing together North and South. We also discussed progress made on the A5 north-west gateway to Aughnacloy and A8 Belfast to Larne roads projects. It was agreed that the Irish Government will pay the next round of funding of €11 million towards the roads project. We reiterated the Government's commitment to these projects, which are essential for the development of the entire island. It was also proposed that a technical working group be established to examine how the projects can be delivered to the required standard at a reduced cost.
On the issue of the St. Andrews Agreement review group, we agreed to forward the recommendations prepared by experts and advisers to the review group for consideration by Ministers in the new Executive and Irish Government. This element of the review under Terms of Reference 1 will be finalised at the November plenary when we will also discuss Terms of Reference 2 and 3 of the St. Andrews review.
On the establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum, we noted the successful conference that had taken place in October of last year and the intention of the Ceann Comhairle and the Speaker of the Assembly to hold a joint meeting of the working groups in Dublin on 23 June.
On the establishment of the North-South consultative forum, we agreed to finalise deliberations on this issue at our next plenary which will take place in November of this year. In addition, there was a full discussion of progress across a range of areas of North-South co-operation including good progress on road safety; co-operation on innovation, energy, tourism, higher education, the environment and trade and business; and the work of North-South bodies, particularly as it relates to fostering economic recovery across the island. We also approved a schedule of future North-South Ministerial Council sectoral meetings which will take place before the end of this year.
I met again with the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister along with Ministers from the Executive and the political leaders from across these islands at the 16th summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in London yesterday.
There is quite a number of questions grouped. I will take a supplementary from Deputy Adams on the council and then one from Deputy Martin, and then I will go back to Deputy Adams.
I tabled two questions.
Deputy Adams has five or six.
Four.
I want to be fair to everybody.
Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Tá mé buíoch don Taoiseach faoi an bhfreagra an-soiléir sin agus tá mé sásta leis an eolas a bhí ann. That is a clear answer to the question and full of information. Hopefully, this is a new start in our relationship.
Always.
Go raibh maith agat.
I welcome the holding of that North-South Ministerial Council and also the reiteration from the North about Altnagelvin and from the Government about the carriageway — the N2-A5 major road scheme. Of course, it is what happens in between those more formal meetings that is important in terms of building relationships.
The Taoiseach might not be able to comment on this but if he could it would be helpful. I note there was an altercation in the Short Strand area of east Belfast overnight and I am advised — I myself did not hear this — that the PSNI has stated it believes that was a UVF orchestrated incident. I am wondering has the Taoiseach any eolas or scéal on that. Second, are there communications as part of the almost informal back and forth between Ministers here and in the Six Counties if something like that arises?
I appreciate the work that is being done at that forum and I thank the Taoiseach for the clarity of his answer.
The tone of the meeting was very good. Because it was the first time for members of the Government to meet members of the Executive, there was genuinely a very good interaction. I certainly encourage members to exchange contact numbers so they could have informal meetings and make informal arrangements which, as Deputy Adams will be aware, are beneficial between formal meetings. I expect that at the sub-sectoral meetings being arranged, Ministers will continue to make contact on a regular basis with the members of the Executive from the Assembly. I will see to it.
I have a briefing note on the Short Strand incident last night but I do not have it with me. If Deputy Adams asks the question on Leaders' Questions, I will give him the up to date information.
I have a harder question than that to ask the Taoiseach.
I have got a briefing note in respect of that which I will be happy to share with the House if Deputy Adams asks the question on Leaders' Questions.
Go raibh maith agat.
In the context of Question No. 8 seeking a report on the outcome of the recent North-South Ministerial Council meeting, was the issue of parading discussed, either formally or informally, between the Taoiseach and the First Minister? The events of last night have raised tensions significantly in interface areas early in the parading season and there were worrying signs earlier in the week, with tensions in north Belfast around the Tour of the North parade. I suggest the combination of these two events is worrying and reflects the fact that, unfortunately, the peace process has not reached all communities in the North. I am keen to ascertain whether any discussions have been held on what could be termed "hard to reach" communities or areas in which certain groups are receiving support. The PSNI has been clear that the UVF launched the attack and that there was a response from the Nationalist side. This is worrying, as people have been injured. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach would indicate whether any discussions took place on these issues at the ministerial council meeting, especially given its timing and the season ahead.
There was no discussion at the formal meeting about parades. I expect this issue to arise at the sectoral meetings with Ministers and members of the Executive. My apologies for not bringing the comprehensive note on the incidents which occurred last night. I would be pleased to share it with Deputies Micheál Martin and Gerry Adams in the House during Leaders' Questions if they come back to the issue then.
It would be useful if there was significant engagement between either the respective Ministers or the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on this issue to develop a multi-policy approach to the wider issues giving rise to the growing support for this activity, which is worrying.
It is an issue of concern. I encourage Ministers to engage fully and comprehensively with their counterparts. Deputy Micheál Martin and I and Deputy Gerry Adams and others have discussed the matter on numerous occasions. Clearly, there is a need for continuous vigilance and involvement in communities that are pressurised and fragile on both sides. We all share this common purpose: having put in place after so many years of difficulty a peace process which has delivered normality to Northern Ireland, we intend to see to it that it continues and that those who seek to disrupt the trend towards peaceful and harmonious living within and among communities are not allowed to disrupt the process. I share the view of every Deputy in the House in that regard.
The Short Strand is a small Nationalist enclave in east Belfast. A great deal of work has been done by people in that community and by their neighbours in loyalist neighbourhoods. This has nothing to do with parading and it is not representative of either of these proud east Belfast communities. I accept the Taoiseach does not have the briefing note, but it is good that a briefing will be provided. Does the Taoiseach agree that the more ongoing and informal contact, good neighbourliness and so on there is, the better for all of us?
Yes, I agree. The Deputy can take it that I encourage Ministers to actively pursue such contact. I intend to travel to Northern Ireland in the near future and engage in activities, projects and so on represented by the different parties and communities. As the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister pointed out recently, having gone through a process of conducting normal elections in Northern Ireland, there is a period ahead in which there will be no election. That will allow for stability and a platform to be built on. We should seize the opportunity and demonstrate that we are serious about co-operation on North-South issues. Where we can achieve efficiencies and demonstrate common purpose we should do so. The Deputy can take it that Ministers will be engaged actively with their counterparts in the Executive.