JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Oct 2009

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh go léir agus céad fáilte romhaibh. Apologies have been received from Deputies Ó Caoláin and McHugh, Mr. Eddie McGrady, MP, and Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP. I remind members and those in the public gallery to ensure that all mobile phones and BlackBerrys are switched off. Please take a moment to do that now. I do not want people taking calls or messages, or going in and out during the meeting. Please show respect for colleagues and the meeting itself. Mobile phone technology can cause serious interference with our recording equipment. We must be respectful of officials working in that area. I ask everyone to respect this instruction to ensure that all mobiles are turned off. They cannot be used for any purpose, including messages, during meetings in the Houses of the Oireachtas or any committees.

The minutes of the meeting of 28 July 2009 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

We will now deal with correspondence. The first letter, dated 16 September 2009, was sent by the Chairman to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, informing him of the proceedings of the meeting of the committee held with IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council on 5 June 2009. A follow-up letter was received from them expressing their encouragement for the upgrading of the N16-A4 corridor, including the Enniskillen bypass.

The second letter, dated 16 September 2009, was sent by the Chairman to Mr. Andy Pollack, director of the Centre for Cross-Border Studies, inviting him to appear before the committee at a future meeting.

The third letter, dated 16 September, was sent by the Chairman congratulating Mr. Niall Gibbons on his recent appointment as the CEO of Tourism Ireland and inviting him to appear before the committee in the future.

The fourth letter, dated 16 September, was sent by the Chairman congratulating Mr. Declan Kelly on his recent appointment as US economic envoy to Northern Ireland, and inviting him to appear before the committee at some stage.

These letters are being circulated for the information of the joint committee. I propose that we note them.

Deputy Eamon Scanlon

Was there a response from the Minister about the N16 and the A4?

Chairman

No, we were told that it would be considered in the context of the budget and we have not had a final response as yet.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney

My question is related to the last one. There will be a North-South Ministerial Council on transport in early November and maybe that issue will come within its remit. Can we get feedback and a follow-up on the Minister's intention to have meetings with this committee before or after such councils? We were given that undertaking at the last meeting.

Chairman

We will communicate with the Minister. I presume he will discuss that at the North-South Ministerial Council and we expect a report immediately thereafter.

The next letter dated 13 July 2009 was sent to me by the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council in appreciation of the opportunity to appear before the committee and making their recommendations, which have been referred to.

The next item of correspondence, dated 4 August 2009, was sent to me by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, thanking us for the opportunity to appear before the committee. Enclosed is a copy of a letter of response to a letter forwarded by the Chairman from Senator Joe O'Toole. Is that noted and agreed? Agreed.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I wish to raise a matter relating to the second item, which is the invitation to Mr. Andy Pollack, director of the Centre for Cross-Border Studies. Has a response been received and, if so, is it planned to invite him to appear before the committee? I note that he was invited to address the committee in October.

Chairman

Yes, we expect that Mr. Pollack will address the committee on Thursday, 19 November at 11.30 a.m.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I am very grateful and I thank the Chairman.

Chairman

Being circulated also for the information of members are three copies of Just News, the human rights in Northern Ireland publication for the months of June, July-August and September, as well as a copy of Joint Business Council News, summer edition, published by the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council.