Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of the North South Ministerial Council to develop consultation, cooperation, and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the Administrations. It also provided for the establishment of North South Implementation Bodies to progress North South cooperation in agreed areas.
The Council and the Bodies are the formal means through which the Government develops and advances North South cooperation, including in relation to infrastructure.
Through the New Decade, New Approach agreement, which restored the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement in 2020, the Government committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive, through the North South Ministerial Council, to deliver a number of North South infrastructure projects, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal, the upgrade of the A5 road, and a review of rail connectivity on the island.
That year, I established the Government’s Shared Island Initiative, which includes a Shared Island Fund – with a commitment of at least €1 billion out to 2030 – ring-fenced for all-island investment. To date, almost €200 million has been allocated from the Shared Island Fund to move forward on cross-border commitments, and also to support the delivery of new infrastructure projects.
Unfortunately, ongoing disruption to the power-sharing and North South political institutions has complicated the ability to further progress infrastructure with an all-island dimension. I spoke with political representatives in Northern Ireland last week and reiterated the urgent need for a restoration of the institutions. This is also a matter that I discuss regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
