Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he intends implementing any changes to scheduled meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council; the issues involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18840/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The North South Ministerial Council meets in three formats: plenary, institutional, and sectoral. I have no plans to seek changes to the structure, format or frequency of NSMC meetings. The most recent meeting in plenary format was held on 10 June, and the next meeting in plenary format is scheduled for 18 November. Officials of my department are currently considering dates for the next meeting in institutional format.

There were meetings in sectoral format on the environment on 1 July; aquaculture and marine on 4 July, and the language body and inland waterways, both of which took place on 7 July. Three further meetings in sectoral format have been agreed for the remainder of July as follows: 20 July, health and food safety; 25 July, trade and business development; and 26 July, agriculture. Sectoral meetings are attended by the relevant government minister, and are held in the offices of the NSMC joint secretariat at Armagh.