Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
59. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide further information on his visit to the Northern Ireland Assembly to discuss Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union; and if any decisions were made to ensure the Presidency has a strong North-South dimension. [15520/13]
View answerI have made every effort to ensure that the Northern Irish Administration has been fully sensitised to our Presidency of the EU and I first raised it in a detailed manner with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at an NSMC Institutional meeting on 27 April 2012. My aim has been to ensure that we gain maximum mutual benefit from the Presidency.
The Irish Presidency and other EU-related matters featured prominently at most NSMC meetings, during 2012, particularly the Plenary, and Ministers availed of all opportunities to brief their counterparts on the Presidency priorities in their sectors. This has continued in 2013 and Ministers used these opportunities to invite their Executive colleagues to participate in relevant Presidency events and a number have already done so. This positive engagement has helped to strengthen North/South cooperation, availing of the first Irish EU Presidency during an operational North South Ministerial Council.
Last October Minister of State Creighton briefed the EC-UK Forum in Stormont on Ireland’s Presidency priorities at the invitation of Northern Ireland Assembly’s Chairman of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), Mike Nesbitt MLA. More recently, on 6 March Minster Creighton briefed the OFMDFM Committee on the work of the Presidency to date and on the plans for the remainder of the semester. Those attending included members of the NI Assembly Business Trust, which brings business representatives and Members of the Assembly together. During the visit she paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Willie Hay MLA and met the two junior Ministers in the OFDFM, Jonathan Bell MLA and Jennifer McCann MLA.
Underscoring the European Union’s continued commitment to Northern Ireland, I am pleased to report that following intensive lobbying by the Government and subject to approval by the European Parliament, the EU will be contributing €150 million to a new PEACE programme.
