Vol. 528 No. 3
223 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of meetings she has held with her ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive; the topics that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30373/00]
Within the framework of the North-South Ministerial Council, I have attended one meeting with my Northern colleague, Minister Michael McGimpsey in the Waterways sectoral format. This meeting dealt with issues relating to the establishment of Waterways Ireland. Further sectoral meeting arranged for Scarriff, County Clare, in October last was postponed but arrangements are being made to reschedule that meeting in Scarriff for January 2001.
In addition, I attended two plenary meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council, one in Armagh and the other in Dublin, at which Minister McGimpsey was also present. These meetings were concerned, inter alia, with the setting up of the North-South bodies.
I have also met Minister McGimpsey on a number of occasions outside the ambit of the North-South Ministerial Council, as follows: Monday, 17 January 2000 Opening of Clothing Exhibition, Collins Barracks, "The way we wore"; Thursday, 14 September 2000 Opening of "Flight of the Earls Exhibition", Draperstown, Derry; Wednesday, 11 October 2000 Opening of Texaco Children's Art Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast; Friday, 17 November 2000 Dinner of joint meeting of Northern Ireland Arts Council and An Chomhairle Ealaíon in Dublin Castle; Sunday, 3 December 2000 Presentation of Irish Film and Television Awards in The Waterfront, Belfast.
