Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:72 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been in communication with the party leaders in Scotland following the recent election to the new assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12965/99]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.
Following the elections to the Scottish Parliament on 6 May 1999, I visited Edinburgh on 28 May to open the new permanent premises of the Consulate General of Ireland. On that occasion, I met the new Scottish First Minister, Donald Dewar. Topics discussed included the development of relations between Ireland and Scotland and the prospects for further developing contacts at ministerial and parliamentary level.
During my visit I also met a number of other Scottish leaders, including Jack McConnell MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament), the Minister for Finance; David McLetchie MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservatives; and Scottish National Party front bench spokesmen Michael Russell MSP and Andrew Wilson MSP.
The Government has responded to the establishment of devolved Government in Scotland, as well as to the provision in the Good Friday Agreement for a new British-Irish Council, by the establishment in September 1998 of the Consulate General in Edinburgh, which has enabled us to develop close and ongoing contacts with Scottish political and other figures.
During the same period, there have been visits to Scotland by other members of the Government, including both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. In October 1998 the Taoiseach met both the Secretary of State Donald Dewar and SNP leader Alex Salmond.
Today, 1 July, the Taoiseach is represented at the opening of the Scottish Parliament by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs. The Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad are also attending the ceremony. Ireland was the only country invited to attend the ceremony at Head of Government level, a fact which reflects the desire of the new Scottish Administration to build a strong relationship with Ireland. This desire is fully reciprocated by the Government.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:73 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been in communication with the party leaders in Wales following the recent election to the new assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12966/99]
Following the elections to the Welsh Assembly on 6 May 1999, I visited Cardiff on 27 May to open the new permanent premises of the Consulate General of Ireland. On that occasion I met a number of Welsh political leaders, including the following: Rt. Hon. Alun Michael MP AM (Assembly Member), Secretary of State for Wales and First Secretary of the National Assembly of Wales; Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Presiding Officer of the Assembly; Rt. Hon. Dafydd Wigley MP AM, President of Plaid Cymru; Michael German AM, Liberal Democrat leader in the Assembly; Rosemary Butler AM, Assembly Secretary for Education; Jane Hutt AM, Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services; Ron Davies MP AM, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Assembly; and Rt. Hon. Russell Goodway, Lord Mayor of the City and Council of Cardiff.
The Government has responded to the establishment of devolved Government in Wales, as well as to the provision in the Good Friday Agreement for a new British-Irish Council, by the establishment in September 1998 of the Consulate General in Cardiff, which has enabled us to develop close and ongoing contacts with Welsh political and other figures.