The Guidelines for the Initiative on Peace and Reconciliation were approved by the European Commission last week. An extensive consultation process with local interests and other Government Departments has been undertaken and is continuing. The Department of Finance, in conjunction with the Department of Finance and Personnel in Belfast, is engaged in drawing up a draft operational programme for the initiative which it is hoped to submit to the Commission by the end of May 1995.
In the course of this work, the administrative arrangements for the delivery of the programme are also being examined. Any measures found to be necessary for the effective delivery of the programme will be put in place.