Vol. 502 No. 6
33 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the British-Irish Council provided for in the Good Friday Agreement will be established; when the first meeting will be held; when the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Maryfield will be closed; the plans, if any, there are for redeployment of staff serving there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8926/99]
Following discussions between the two Governments and consultations with the parties in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I signed a supplementary International Agreement providing for the establishment of the British-Irish Council in Dublin on 8 March. The legislative framework for the establishment of the council is therefore now in place.
In accordance with the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, and the supplementary agreements signed in Dublin, the British-Irish Council, along with the North-South Ministerial Council, the Implementation Bodies, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the devolution of legislative and executive powers to the Assembly, will take place at the same time as the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement.
It is the hope of the Irish and British Governments that, once the present difficulties regarding decommissioning and the establishment of the Executive are resolved, all the necessary arrangements for the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement can be rapidly completed, and the first meetings of the British-Irish Council, and the other institutions, can take place.
A supplementary International Agreement providing for the establishment of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference was also signed on 8 March. It will come into being at the same time as the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement. The Maryfield offices of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat have been closed, and the secretariat and its staff transferred to new premises in the centre of Belfast.
34 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparations, if any, made for the development of North-South tourism co-operation envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement; the plans, if any, made with regard to the possible establishment of a single company to cover all-Ireland tourism promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7424/99]
63 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent document on North and South structures with specific reference to the area of tourism; and if he will give details of the limited company to be set up by Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to market Ireland internationally. [7537/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 63 together.
It was agreed on 18 December last that a publicly-owned limited company will be established to carry out overseas marketing and promotion activity for Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, as one of the six areas for North-South co-operation.
The company will not operate as an Implementation Body as such, but will nonetheless play a major role in a key area of North-South co-operation.
The relevant line Departments, North and South, are in discussion on issues relating to the establishment of such a company and the intention is that arrangements would be approved at an early meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. Deputies will no doubt appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of these pending their finalisation and agreement.
