Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2016
165. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has completed an assessment of the implications for the North-South bodies since the result of the referendum on a British exit from the European Union, particularly on those bodies that receive European Union funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20259/16]
View answerAt the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) which was held in Dublin Castle on Monday 4 July 2016, Government and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers had a detailed discussion on the potential impact of the UK Referendum vote to leave the EU. The Council agreed that the implications of the referendum decision on North South cooperation should be explored in detail for all sectors. In order to optimise joint planning and engagement on key issues arising following the UK referendum result, the NSMC agreed to work together to ensure that Northern Ireland’s interests are protected and advanced and the benefits of North/South co-operation are fully recognised in any new arrangements which emerge as regards the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union.
The Council agreed that a full audit will be undertaken in all NSMC sectors, which include the six North South Bodies and Tourism Ireland Ltd., to identify the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies arising in the phases preceding and following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It was also agreed that Ministers North and South at their forthcoming NSMC Sectoral meetings will consider the strategic and cross-cutting issues arising and that final priorities will be agreed by the next NSMC Plenary in November for both pre-negotiation and negotiation phases.
All of the North South Bodies are testament to the benefit of working together for mutual benefit, and in the light of the Referendum result it will be important that the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government continue to fully support the work of the Bodies.
The North South Bodies are playing a continuing and central role in our economic recovery, with Tourism Ireland driving record tourism numbers to this island and InterTradeIreland building vital exporting capacity among our small and medium enterprises, the mainstay of the all-island economy. Another North South Body, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), is the Managing Authority for various EU Programmes.
At the NSMC Plenary meeting the Council re-iterated the joint commitment of the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to the successful implementation of the EU’s PEACE and INTERREG programmes, and agreed that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Northern Ireland Finance Minister will consider the issue of securing the ERDF funding for PEACE and INTERREG, including through engagement with the European Commission.
