Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 February 2010
553 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cross border programmes, initiatives, areas of co-operation and so on which his Department is engaging in or about to engage in with its counterparts in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7614/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe co-operation that can take place within the Agriculture sector was laid down in the Good Friday Agreement. The areas specifically identified were animal and plant health. Subsequently the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed that there should be formal co-operation in the following sectors of agriculture:- the development of an All-Island Animal Health Strategy for control of animal movements and the prevention, containment and eradication of epizootic diseases in Ireland; the development of an All-Island Plant Health and Research Strategy including co-operation between both jurisdictions in relation to plant protection products; liaison on issues arising at WTO, EU enlargement and the mid-term review of the CAP.
In addition to these formal arrangements, my officials regularly engage with their counterparts in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland on other issues of mutual concern.
