Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018
24. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has made contact with the permanent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to discuss the improvement of cross-Border co-operation on issues concerning rural development and in recognition of the shared concerns which Brexit will bring to Border areas in the North and South. [25906/18]
View answerAs Minister for Rural and Community Development I am a member of the North South Ministerial Council. However, my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has primary responsibility with respect to the North South Ministerial Council relating to Agriculture and Rural Development.
The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has been unable to meet since the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017 because there is no First and Deputy First Minister in place which is required to satisfy a number of statutory requirements in respect of NSMC Meetings.
Formal NSMC official-level Working Groups, required to prepare for NSMC Ministerial meetings in the areas of cooperation, are therefore not taking place.
However, officials from Departments in both jurisdictions have continued to work together in line with the previously agreed work programme of cooperation.
My officials have continued therefore to engage with their counterparts in relation to progressing projects under the co-operation measure under the current LEADER programme and within the North West Strategic Growth Partnership initiative being progressed by both Donegal Local Authority and Derry City Council.
North South cooperation on rural and community development issues brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and across the Island. It contributes to economic opportunity and development within these communities.
It is also a very practical manifestation of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of social and economic relationships between people across the island, to mutual benefit. It is for these reasons that the Government has prioritised the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its part, and the gains of the peace process, along with the avoidance of a hard border, in the Brexit negotiations.
I earnestly hope that a new administration can be put in place soon and I look forward to engaging with my counterpart in Northern Ireland at an early date in the future on issues of common interest within my Departments remit.
