Vol. 491 No. 5
15 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it is expected that the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement will be established; when it is expected that the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Maryfield will be phased out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12491/98]
The British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, together with the North/South Ministerial Council and implementation bodies, will be established immediately on the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement. The devolution of legislative and executive powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly will take place at the same time. The Agreement does, however, envisage that the North/South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council shall meet in shadow form during the transitional period which will begin after the Assembly elections.
The timing of the Agreement's entry into force is dependent on the enactment, in both jurisdictions, of all the necessary legislation. Given that the shadow North/South Council's work programme to agree and identify at least six areas for implementation bodies does not have to be completed until 31 October next, the legislative process may not be complete until early next year, although we shall do our utmost to accelerate matters.
The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which was established by the Anglo-Irish Agreement and which is serviced by the Anglo-Irish secretariat based at Maryfield will cease to exist on the entry into force of the new British-Irish Agreement. It is expected that the secretariat will close by the end of this year in preparation for the establishment of the new institutions.
