John Bruton
Ceist:2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet the newly appointed Ministers to the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25909/99]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Northern Ireland Issues.
John Bruton
Ceist:3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to visit Northern Ireland before the end of 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25910/99]
John Gormley
Ceist:4 Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. [26053/99]
John Gormley
Ceist:5 Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet President Clinton in the immediate future. [26054/99]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:6 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the role his Department will play in the implementation of the cross-Border and all-Ireland aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. [26075/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:7 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister following the devolution of powers to the Northern Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26201/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:8 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the progress made in regard to the implementation of the aspects of the Good Friday Agreement for which his Department has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26202/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:9 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when the first full meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council will take place; the plans, if any, he has to participate in it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26203/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:10 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when the first meeting of the British-Irish Council will take place; the plans, if any, he has to participate in it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:11 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when the Council of the Isles will be established; the basis on which representatives of Dáil Éireann will be selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26205/99]
John Bruton
Ceist:12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions with the First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Leader of the UUP, Mr. David Trimble; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26211/99]
John Bruton
Ceist:13 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Séamus Mallon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26214/99]
John Bruton
Ceist:14 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the communications, if any, he has had with President Clinton since the UUP executive council meeting on 27 November 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26215/99]
John Bruton
Ceist:15 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in the first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26828/99]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:16 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. [26878/99]
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:78 Mr. Crawford asked the Taoiseach if he has satisfied himself that cross-Border bodies being established as a result of the Good Friday Agreement should be based in the Border region where most of the pain and suffering and loss of jobs and income occurred over the past 30 years; the way in which the case of Cork city is justified as the first base for such a body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27278/99]
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:79 Mr. Crawford asked the Taoiseach his views on whether serious damage was done to the six Border countries over the past 30 years of violence in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27279/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 16, inclusive, and 78 and 79 together.
The first plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council took place in Armagh yesterday. In line with the provisions of the relevant agreements, I led the Government delegation from this jurisdiction. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee delegation was led by Mr. David Trimble, First Minister, and Mr. Séamus Mallon, Deputy First Minister, who acted as joint chairmen for the meeting.
At the meeting both sides acknowledged the importance of the occasion as a significant further step in the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We welcomed the role that the council could play in developing consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland, including through implementation on an all-island and cross-Border basis, of matters of mutual interest within the competence of the administrations, North and South. We agreed that there is real potential for mutual benefit in many sectors and we looked forward to realising that potential in the council in the period ahead.
We also agreed, recalling the commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to the principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships between North and South, that the council should play a central role in promoting reconciliation within, and ensuring a better future for all the people on, the island.
At the meeting we agreed a memorandum of procedure which sets out the procedural arrangements relating to the proceedings and operation of the council. The council, taking account of considerations of North-South balance and regional dispersion, as well as objective factors relating to the various individual bodies, also agreed on the locations of the headquarters and other offices of the six implementation bodies and of the tourism company, when established. The council also made appointments of members of the management boards of the Trade and Business Development Body, the North-South Language Body and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and the advisory board to the Food Safety Body.
The council also agreed an outline programme of work in regard to the areas of co-operation as a basis for follow-up in the appropriate sectoral formats and that the relevant proposals in the outline programme of work should be tabled at the first meetings of the council in each appropriate sectoral format.
In addition, the council considered its approach to future work arrangements, programmes and meetings. It agreed that the council would meet in sectoral format to consider issues relating to the implementation bodies – Waterways Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board, Special EU Programmes, North-South Language Body, Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and the Trade and Business Development Body – and matters for co-operation, which are transport, agriculture, education, health, environment and tourism. In view of the urgent need to take forward certain matters in relation to the implementation bodies and areas for co-operation, the council agreed that particular priority be given to meetings of the council relevant to those issues and that these would take place at the earliest possible date. It agreed also that the question of additional sectoral formats will be agreed by the council in institutional format.
The council noted that the meeting was taking place at the start of a week which would see further significant developments, with inaugural summit meetings of the British Irish Council and the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference scheduled to take place in London on Friday, 17 December. Again, in line with the provisions of the relevant agreements, I will lead the Irish Government delegation.
Strand three of the Good Friday Agreement provides that "the British-Irish Council will meet in different formats: at summit level, twice per year; and in specific formats on a regular basis, with each side represented by the appropriate Minister". However, the Agreement also provides that "the elected institutions of the members will be encouraged to develop interparliamentary links, perhaps building on the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body".
Now that the Agreement has entered into force, steps will be taken to follow-up on the parliamentary aspect. This will require consultation with and within the two Houses of the Oireachtas. It will be necessary to take account of the existence of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, which has already considered its future in light of the Agreement and which will need to be consulted further.
My Department has played a key role, with the other Departments involved, including through intensive contact with No. 10 Downing Street in supporting and assisting the efforts by Senator George Mitchell, in his review, to overcome the difficulties which had prevented the implementation of the institutional aspects of the Agreement. The outcome of those efforts has been apparent over the past three weeks and has led to the British-Irish Agreement entering into force and to the implementation last week of the institutional and constitutional aspects of the Agreement.
In addition, my Department played a major role in the implementation of the North-South aspects of the Agreement, including the negotiation of the areas for implementation bodies and for co-operation through existing bodies in each jurisdiction, the negotiation of the supplementary international agreements on the North-South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Con ference and especially the implementation bodies, in the preparation and enactment of the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act, 1999, in the settlement of the procedure for the North-South Ministerial Council and in preparation for such practical matters as the joint designation by the Irish and British Governments of persons to carry out on an interim basis the functions of chief executives of the implementation bodies, pending the appointment of actual chief executives – which has been done – the nomination of persons to be directors of those implementation bodies that will have them and the settlement of the negotiating position of the Irish Government on the locations of the head-quarters and other locations of the bodies.
All these matters were taken forward vigorously with a view to the establishment of the implementation bodies, which occurred on Thursday, 2 December and to enabling them to be operational as soon as possible. This involved a large amount of co-ordination with all other Departments involved, including on such matters as financial memoranda and staffing principles for the bodies.
My Department has also played a substantial role in advancing follow-up in regard to the six agreed areas for co-operation, where implementation is to be by existing bodies in the two jurisdictions, so as to enable a solid follow-up on these matters in the initial meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council in various sectoral formats. My Department has also had a significant input in regard to implementation of other areas of the Agreement as they apply to this jurisdiction, including, for example, human rights aspects, matters relating to the victims of violence and the promotion of reconciliation, but other Departments are primarily responsible for these areas.
For the future, my Department will continue to play an active role in the further implementation of the Agreement, in all the areas that I have already identified including in providing the necessary support for me in my participation in the meetings of the plenary format of the North-South Ministerial Council, which are to take place twice a year.
I am fully conscious of the need for the effective implementation of the cross-Border and all-island elements of the Good Friday Agreement. The implementation of the arrangements approved yesterday will represent important steps in that process. The Government will act as necessary to ensure that the mutual benefits are, and are seen to be, realised. All of our efforts have focused on bringing a better future to all of this island, including the Border counties and we will continue to work to achieve that.
In answering the question as to the role of my Department, I should, however, underline that all the progress that has been made in implementing the Good Friday Agreement has been the result of a very committed collective effort by all Mini sters and Departments involved, to whom I pay tribute.
Further to the provision under the section of the Good Friday Agreement relating to rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, which states that the Irish Government will "continue to take further active steps to demonstrate its respect for the different traditions in the island of Ireland", the Irish Government has paid £150,000 for the Irish Peace Park in Messines, and has committed a further allocation of £50,000. Some £24,000 has been allocated to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association towards the costs of developing a multimedia presentation aimed at highlighting the sacrifices made by all traditions on this island in World War I. Funding has also been allocated to the Cork Lions Club towards the costs of restoring the Cenotaph on South Mall in Cork city and to the Ulster Society, towards the costs of their ongoing activities aimed at promoting Ulster-British heritage and culture. A grant is also being made to the Ulster Historical Foundation towards the costs of its project entitled "History of the Irish Parliament".
I was glad to announce, last Sunday week, that the Government has agreed in principle to purchase the site of the Battle of the Boyne. A special interdepartmental committee, established by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, has been given the task of bringing forward comprehensive long-term proposals for the development of the site. We are spending £150,000 on immediate interim measures to improve public access, visitor facilities and information material.
In opening up this hugely important part of our shared heritage to the people of this island and to overseas visitors, the Government will continue to consult closely with representatives of the Unionist tradition, with the relevant local authorities and with community groups.
I have been in regular contact with the office holders and parties in Northern Ireland and with other relevant Government leaders in recent days and weeks. On the subject of a meeting with President Clinton, there are no plans for such a meeting in the near future. However, I met the President at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul a few weeks ago.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there is disappointment in some Border counties that, for example, there is no major office of a cross-Border institution being established in County Monaghan or County Cavan, counties which have suffered substantially as a result of the existence of the Border and the violence associated with it over the past 60 years? Would he not have considered that towns such as Monaghan, Clones, Castleblayney and Carrickmacross would have been ideal locations for a suitable institution, as would Cavan or Cootehill?
There have been representations from many towns and counties. They are all suitable but it is just that there is not enough to go around. We weighed the balance in favour of the North regarding the bigger offices – with Newry, Enniskillen and Omagh being allocated the biggest offices. We forfeited our right in getting equality in this regard because of the significance of some of these areas, particularly Omagh and Enniskillen. There are smaller offices in other locations but as we move on to further implementation bodies and further offices, as we will inevitably do, the understanding is that the balance will swing back to the South.
Some of the smaller offices are quite small and will not mean any great assistance. Of the eight locations in the South which have been selected as a base for either the headquarters or sub-offices, four of these, Carrick-on-Shannon, Monaghan, the Carlingford Lough area and Donegal are in the Border counties. UCC has the food facility and the food safety promotional area is located in Cork because UCC has been in this business since the days when it was a centre for dairy science. We have tried to spread the offices around, but Cavan is an obvious location for the future for some of the bigger ones. In the circumstances I gave way to allow some of the bigger offices on this occasion to be based in the North.
Is the Taoiseach aware that no one from Monaghan has been appointed to the bodies and only one person from Cavan has been appointed? I ask the Taoiseach to reflect on that.
In light of the setting up of the British-Irish ministerial body, will the Ulster Unionists be taking their seats in the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body so that there will be comprehensive representation? Furthermore, will arrangements be put in place to ensure closer cross-Border hospital co-operation? There are tremendous possibilities for cross-Border co-operation in the hospital services, in dealing with emergencies and specialisation in particular disciplines in hospitals in the Border areas in general.
While there is already some co-operation, health is an excellent area in which to quickly build up contacts and relationships. We have different specialties which are to the forefront of our medical involvement. If a meeting has not taken place already, an early meeting is due under the co-operation heading. There is already contact at the teaching hospital-medical university level and there is an effort to formalise that and make it far more comprehensive. The area of health research was mentioned in some of the side discussions yesterday and there is an opportunity for us to begin exchanging such information. Health research is an expensive business so we can benefit from co-operation in that sector. We are already spending substantial amounts of money on cancer research, while in the North health researchers have been involved in substantive research on the treatment of burns by skin grafts – an area of which we do not have as much knowledge. There is an enormous potential for co-operation in all these areas.
Replying directly to the Deputy's question, the sectoral formats will be discussed at an early meeting. I cannot remember when the meeting on health issues will take place, but all the bodies will hold one meeting before Christmas and health will be an important aspect. I will take account of the points Deputy Bruton made regarding the residency of some of the individuals appointed.
What about the British-Irish Parliamentary Body?
I hope the Unionists will take their seats.
There is no excuse for not doing so.
I would like to see them all take their seats as a proper, representative group. They will certainly attend this week's meeting.
I welcome Deputy Bruton's support for the lobby for Cavan and Monaghan, and the Taoiseach's response on the future prospects for both counties. Does the Taoiseach agree that the establishment this week of the All-Ireland structures under the Good Friday Agreement marks a milestone in the history of this island and that it has tremendous potential to render partition redundant? Does he also agree that as well as utilising the new structures to the full, there is a need to ensure that the key areas of All-Ireland co-operation, including agriculture, tourism, education, health, the environment and transport, are developed speedily?
In direct association with the opportunities afforded to the Taoiseach in recent days, will he advise the House if he raised with the British Prime Minister the discovery of a listening and tracking device in a vehicle used by the Sinn Féin president, Mr. Gerry Adams, and the newly appointed Minister for Education, Mr. Martin McGuinness? What response did the Taoiseach receive? Does he regard it as unacceptable that the British Prime Minister maintains a total and self-imposed silence on the issue and on the monitoring by British Intelligence of all telecommunications contact in and out of this island, as was recently revealed? I would welcome the Taoiseach's response to these matters.
I welcome the North-South ministerial bodies which provide an opportunity for us to develop a range of contacts, not only in the implementation bodies but also in other sectors. I was pleased that members of all parties represented on the Executive, who attended yesterday's meeting – with one exception – welcomed the implementation bodies. One of the points that might have been lost in recent days was that the six implementation bodies were agreed before the Good Friday Agreement, they did not arise from subsequent discussions. The implementation bodies we are now operating were agreed earlier on in Holy Week 1998, before we finalised the Good Friday Agreement which was to continue to expand and develop that list. That is not to mention all the discussions that took place around the area of co-operation and the implementation bodies, which we agreed exactly a year ago, on 17/18 December 1998. As is set out in the memorandum of understanding and the memorandum of operation, there is not just an enormous opportunity to co-operate in exchanging information but also to work on developing areas of action. I have no doubt that potential will be built upon in a spirit of friendship and with much activity from the Irish side. That is what we should do. The early response from members of the Executive who want to become involved in working formats is heartening. Meetings have already been arranged for January.
I raised the security issues which were mentioned here last week, as promised. The British Government does not publicly, or privately for that matter, make responses to these initiatives. However, I raised the matter and I think the message was received. I will not, of course, state what Prime Minister Blair stated in return because these meetings are confidential. However, I made the point strongly.
I also made the point, as I said here I would last week, about the normalisation paper and the necessity to move on very quickly with it. Since I made those comments last week, Castlereagh detention centre was closed down, which I hope will start the process of dealing with a number of the normalisation issues.
I call Deputy Quinn.
May I ask a brief supplementary?
I have called Deputy Quinn, who tabled six questions to the Taoiseach on this point. I will call Deputy Ó Caoláin again.
Does the Taoiseach agree that, at this very early stage of this new and historic step, references to the cross-Border bodies as being ones which would make partition redundant are misleading, in regard to the contents of the Good Friday Agreement, and capable of arousing unnecessary fears, and that we should tread very carefully in relation to this cross-Border co-operation based, as it is, on the Council of Europe ministerial meetings?
My second question relates to the very comprehensive initial reply the Taoiseach gave, which will bear some study. On the basis of what he said and the notes I took, can he indicate if there will be a permanent physical secretariat for the cross-Border bodies? Will it have one central secretariat, similar to the way the Commission services the European Council of Ministers? If so, where will that body be located? Will it publish its calendar or programme of ministerial meetings? Can I take it, if it has a formal physical headquarters, that all the ministerial meetings will take place in one venue as a norm, although with the possibility to go to other places on occasion?
The Taoiseach was somewhat vague, although perhaps that was because a decision has not yet been made. There is the British-Irish Council and also the Council of the Isles which, in effect, refer to the same matter, depending from which point one is looking at them. I used the two terms interchangeably in my questions to the Taoiseach. I am referring specifically to the parliamentary tier that would arise from this agreement. Can I take it there is a possibility that the existing British-Irish parliamentary body would continue with a separate existence to a new parliamentary body that would represent elected representatives from the various democratic assemblies in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin, London, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands? Or, if the Taoiseach is in a position to answer the question, is it intended at this stage to have one inclusive parliamentary tier, which would mean, in effect, that the British-Irish parliamentary group would be subsumed into a wider grouping?
I hope the spirit of the all-island cross-Border initiatives is not too sensitive, but it must be developed and worked on and people must gain confidence in it. That will take some time. However, having said that, it is immensely important, particularly for people in Border regions, to see it develop. Hopefully, in time, people will just get used to the idea. I think that will happen fairly quickly.
But it will not change the sovereign status of either part of this country?
It is part of the institutional agreement and change. It is there in its own right. It will not change anything other than what it set out to do.
Does the Taoiseach agree that if the view is allowed to emerge the successful operation of cross-Border bodies will, in some way, accelerate the making of partition redundant, that that will, in itself, become an impediment to the presence of people who, sadly, were not at the meeting yesterday? Does he agree that the objective of the agreement is to say that the issues involving sovereignty are dealt with elsewhere in the overall Agreement and that it is not in anybody's interest to send that confusing message?
That is correct. The principles of consent are elsewhere in the Agreement. I was extremely careful yesterday to try to strike a balance between the people at the meeting and those who did not attend. Some of the remarks made by people not at the meeting did not reflect the spirit of the parties who attended, and some of the issues they raised were exaggerated. However, I welcome the fact that they were talking about the same issues as the people at the meeting, issues such as co-operation and joint action where appropriate. I look forward to the day when they change their stance and attend the meetings, and I hope that day is not too far away.
There is a centre and a secretariat and there will be two nominees – one representing the Executive and one representing the Government. People are still moving offices and arrangements are still being made so I will send a detailed note with all the facts to the party leaders. An official was appointed in recent days to head our administrative staff. The intention is to have one office at one location but negotiations are ongoing. I will send a detailed note. I take the point about having regular meetings and circulating information. It will be complicated just to keep track of the meetings taking place in January so we need to build a system from the start and I will do so.
At the time of the Good Friday Agreement it was my view that the British-Irish parliamentary body, in its present form, would fold and become a parliamentary tier comprising representatives from Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and our friends from the Northern Ireland Assembly. Strong views have been expressed on this issue by parliamentary colleagues in this House and Westminster.
It is called squatters' rights.
I am reluctant to make the decision as we need further discussion. However, with the greatest respect to colleagues in this House, the parliamentary aspect is not only important to our friends from the Assembly, the Oireachtas and Westminster, but also to our friends in Scotland.
Absolutely.
While this issue was not ever fully tied down we should discuss it further. I feel an obligation to my Scottish colleagues to try to work this into a system.
Thar cheann an Chomhaontais Ghlais cuirim fáilte roimh an Fhorais Trasteorann nua chomh maith.
Ó thaobh modhanna oibre de má tá difríocht idir an caighdeán chomhshaoil nó bia, mar shampla, ó thuaidh agus ó dheas, an bhfuil an Taoiseach cinnte go nglacfar leis an caighdeán ard?
If there is a difference between the environmental or food standards North and South, can the Taoiseach be certain that the higher standard will operate in a cross-Border context? Will he strive for the higher standard and is he certain it will be reached?
Cén ciall atá leis an socrú na food safety laboratories a lonnú i gCorcaigh nuair atá an cuid is mó de na muca,cearca agus úlla sa tír ag teacht ó Chontae Mhuineacháin, mar shampla?
Why was it decided to locate the food safety laboratories in Cork given the amount of agricultural produce coming from Monaghan and Cavan which needs the type of work carried out by the Food Safety Authority? This is a serious issue.
In reply to the first question, we should endeavour to maintain the highest standards in every area. The implementation bodies will ensure that none of our policies or standards is diluted. In reply to the second question, the decision was reached by agreement. The Deputy may be surprised to know that for a long time our colleagues in Northern Ireland have had a close association with their colleagues in Cork and were aware of their work.
They could have introduced them to the people of Cavan and Monaghan.
Good mileage.
The Taoiseach, without interruption.
It is about making contact and cross-Border co-operation.
It is all-island and cross-Border co-operation.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is from Cork.
I hope we will not have to decentralise everything to the Border regions.
The Government will ignore them.
We will not ignore them.
The Celtic tiger has passed them by.
It is important we base the bodies where there is expertise. The former dairy science and food safety unit is based in UCC.
Does the Taoiseach agree there is a distinction between the British-Irish Parliamentary Body which unites the parliamentarians of two sovereign states and the parliamentary body of the isles which may be considered and which would unite sovereign and non-sovereign assemblies? Clearly they have different functions and there are matters which the two sovereign Governments would need to discuss, such as defence, which do not come within the direct competence of the other bodies. Therefore, there is an argument for having two parliamentary bodies.
As I said in my reply, there is an argument for that, which is why the issue must be discussed. At the start of negotiations, I attended the proceedings of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body in County Cavan for a day. The spirit of the meeting was that I should endeavour to bring all the parliamentary groups, assemblies or otherwise, together. Having succeeded in that, I admit there is validity in the point made about the difference between the sovereignty and regional assemblies. That point has also been made in Westminster. It will have to be examined and worked out.
My question arises from the Taoiseach's response to the points I made earlier. Does he agree it is unacceptable that silence is being maintained regarding the serious car-bugging incident during the Mitchell review and that there is a wider issue of the ongoing interception of all telecommunications contact in and out of this jurisdiction by the British authorities? This is extremely unacceptable and I want the Taoiseach to express his view. Does he share my view that this is unacceptable and the silence must be interpreted as a statement of culpability and responsibility?
The silence is consistent, as is always the case regarding these issues. I have made clear my views and those of the Government and the House. I hope normality will be restored so these more extreme security actions will not be necessary. The British Government would like to reach that position as soon as it can. It must listen to its security staff, which is the way all Governments operate. We do the same – the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform must listen to security reports. I will not criticise the British Prime Minister because he listens to his security staff, as I do the same.
The interception of telecommunications contact has nothing to do with security.
In view of the importance and value of co-operation on the cross-Border bodies to both sides of the Border, will the Taoiseach consider giving a Minister responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of these bodies? Will he pay attention to the point made by Deputy Bruton in terms of cross-Border co-operation on health issues given that one of the first decisions taken by the Northern Ireland Executive will be an unpopular one to close hospitals in places such as Omagh, Enniskillen and Dungannon? Co-operation across the Border might find a solution other than closing some of these hospital services. Was it a good idea for a procession of ministerial mercs to travel to Armagh yesterday? Will the Taoiseach agree that while we all condemn the bugging of cars, telephones and so on, we also condemn the use of car bombs in the past which a certain Deputy in this House did not do in his political life?
I will not comment on yesterday's travel arrangements. Note will be taken of what has been said regarding the health issue. There are a number of substantial issues to be dealt with on the health agenda. These were discussed yesterday at side meetings. Co-operation and co-ordination on the issues mentioned will be dealt with by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Arrangements for the plenary sessions will be dealt with by my Department. The unit I mentioned earlier in response to Deputy Quinn will co-ordinate all the activities.
A final supplementary from Deputy Boylan.
The Taoiseach frequently stated inside and outside this House the opportunities that would be presented as a result of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. At the first opportunity presented, he ignored the just call from the people of Cavan and Monaghan to locate one or two headquarters in those counties. What is wrong with Ballyhaise Agricultural College as a location for one of the offices? Can the Taoiseach justify to the people of Cavan and Monaghan how it was decided to site three headquarters in Dublin, a city which is impossible to get in or out of. Where does this leave the Taoiseach's policy of decentralisation, regionalisation and his concern for the Border region?
The Deputy should continue to lobby for the location of these implementation bodies.
I have just begun.
The Taoiseach will not send the Deputy out to the plinth.
I could. Deputy Bruton should send him out.
The Taoiseach is—
(Interruptions).
Deputy Boylan should be on Deputy Bruton's front bench.
I do not wish to be blunt, but I gave the headquarters which might have gone to Deputy Boylan's county to Enniskillen.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach—
Taoiseach's ques tions have been concluded. Before proceeding with Priority Questions this afternoon—
I cannot leave the matter.
(Interruptions).
I ask Deputy Boylan to resume his seat.
I do so reluctantly.