I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 206, inclusive, together.
The nineteenth meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held in Armagh on 5 December 2014.
At the meeting, discussions covered economic and budgetary issues in both jurisdictions. The Council welcomed the broadly encouraging prospects while recognising that challenges remain. The recent announcement by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on Corporation Tax was also discussed. Both administrations reflected on their respective successes in attracting external investment while acknowledging that there is a key role to be played by indigenous companies in economic development. The opportunities to work together on Joint Trade Missions and on developing new markets were also recognised.
The Council noted that, following Ministerial consideration of a report on the feasibility of submitting a joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, it had been agreed to support the IRFU’s bid, and indeed the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, First Minister, deputy First Minister and other Ministers had attended the launch of the bid in Armagh just before the Plenary meeting. The Council discussed the potential benefits hosting such an event would bring to both jurisdictions and agreed that the relevant Ministers should work closely together to ensure the strongest possible bid is submitted.
Ministers noted that the new draft PEACE and INTERREG Programmes are currently with the European Commission for consideration and it is hoped that the final Programmes will be launched in Spring 2015.
The Council welcomed the ongoing discussions between Ministers at NSMC meetings on the potential for collaboration to draw down EU funds and noted that there is active engagement between both jurisdictions on the opportunities available. The Council looked forward to a further progress report at its next meeting.
Ministers also noted the position on Sectoral Priorities and the North West Gateway Initiative and agreed to keep these matters on its agenda. They also discussed the Progress Report prepared by the NSMC Joint Secretaries on the work of the North South Bodies and in the other NSMC areas for co-operation and noted the current position on a North South Consultative Forum.
There was an in-depth discussion on Child Protection issues with a particular focus on e-Safety, and the good collaborative work already taking place, both within the NSMC structures and elsewhere was noted. Ministers recognised that issues such as these are cross-cutting and cross-jurisdictional and will require an ongoing collaborative approach between both administrations. The Council agreed that Ministers who have a remit in Child Protection and E-Safety related activities should engage with their counterparts in the opposite jurisdiction to explore whether there is potential for further collaboration. It was also agreed that this topic should be revisited at a future meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the NSMC is scheduled to take place in early summer 2015, and I am looking forward to continuing to work closely and constructively on all of these issues with our Northern colleagues in the North South Ministerial Council.
Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of the North/South Ministerial Council and the North/South Implementation Bodies. It also provided that consideration be given to a North/South Consultative Forum and a North/South Parliamentary Forum. The St Andrews Agreement provided further that the Northern Ireland Executive would support the establishment of an independent North/South Consultative Forum.
With the establishment in 2012 of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association, which is in effect the North/South Parliamentary Forum envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement, the only Strand Two institution that remains outstanding is the North/South Consultative Forum. The Government continues to support the establishment of the Consultative Forum, and the Taoiseach has raised the Forum at each Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council he has attended including the most recent meeting on 5 December.
The Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the Irish Language Act and the Northern Ireland Civic Forum were not discussed at the NSMC Plenary meeting as they are not Strand Two issues and are therefore not among the matters discussed at NSMC meetings. However, outstanding commitments of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements have been discussed at the political talks in Belfast convened by the Irish and British Governments, which began on 16 October. The Irish Government has strongly advocated progress on these matters in the current talks. The principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement and St. Andrews Agreement are essential to peace and reconciliation in Ireland and across these islands. Accordingly, the position of the Irish Government always has been, and continues to be, that all outstanding elements of the Agreements must be implemented.
