Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013
67. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues he intends to raise at the upcoming North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28915/13]
View answerWhile the final agenda for the Plenary meeting, which is to take place in July, has still to be agreed with the Northern Ireland administration, it is likely that discussions will touch on financial, economic and EU matters. On this occasion, I expect that Ministers from North and South will together take the opportunity to review our EU residency including the involvement of Northern Ministers in Presidency-related events and the progress made on key issues of mutual interest during the Presidency. I would also expect matters of topical concern such as youth employment to be discussed.It is customary for Ministers to review work undertaken in the areas of North South cooperation, including by the North-South bodies since the preceding plenary meeting. I hope that we will also discuss progress made on the St Andrews Agreement Review on expanding the areas of North South cooperation, and I hope to discuss the North West Gateway Initiative. Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council in Plenary format have become an excellent forum for substantive exchanges on topics of mutual interest. I am therefore looking forward to the Plenary in July and to continuing to work with our Northern colleagues in further developing North South cooperation.
