Vol. 528 No. 3
50 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [30363/00]
My ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive Committee, Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and I meet regularly under the aegis of the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, which was established on 2 December 1999 on the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement.
Minister Empey and I have met formally on three occasions at the NSMC, meeting in its trade and business development sectoral format: 24 January 2000, 30 June 2000 and 27 October 2000.
At those meetings, which were also attended by Dr. Sean Farren, MLA, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, issues addressed included matters arising from the establishment of InterTradeIreland, the trade and business development body, such as staffing, premises, funding and work programme.
Ministers also discussed issues affecting competitiveness on the island including progressing a study on this issue which was referred to the NSMC by a plenary meeting of the council in September 2000.
I have also had the opportunity to meet informally with my counterpart en marge of plenary meetings of the NSMC and on other occasions including certain InterTradeIreland events.
