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North-South Ministerial Council

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022

Thursday, 24 March 2022

Questions (210)

Neale Richmond

Question:

210. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the schedule of upcoming meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. [6424/22]

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Written answers

Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) take place on dates agreed between the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Normal practice is for an indicative schedule of future meetings to be agreed at each NSMC plenary meeting.

At the plenary meeting on 30 July 2021, an indicative schedule of meetings was agreed, including a plenary meeting in December 2021. This plenary meeting did not take place. Due to the DUP’s continued withdrawal from participation in NSMC meetings and the need for cross-community representation at those meetings, only nine of the 27 meetings initially planned for 2021 took place. This is deeply regrettable. The Council’s next meeting is not expected until a new Executive is formed following Assembly elections in May.

The NSMC, which was established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement to develop consultation, cooperation, and action within the island of Ireland, is the formal means for advancing North-South cooperation. In the Council, the Government works with the Executive to advance areas of practical cooperation to our mutual benefit. This is particularly important at a time when we need to support communities and businesses across the island to recover from the pandemic.

No positive agenda is served by the breakdown of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, either the NSMC or indeed the Executive, which has also been impacted by recent political instability.

Despite the current absence of formal meetings of the NSMC, practical initiatives previously agreed in the framework of the Council continue to operate and to deliver significant benefits for citizens, North and South. The important work of the North South Implementation Bodies, which operate under the auspices of the NSMC, also continues.

My Government colleagues and I look forward to increased engagement with the Executive in the period ahead, through Ministerial meetings in the NSMC’s policy sectors to deliver projects that benefit communities across the island. The NSMC is essential to overseeing and developing North-South cooperation on matters of mutual interest, and thus it is crucial that the Council is not further impeded from achieving this.

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