Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

All of us wished that the institutions would have been up and running in full from last Monday's date. Nonetheless, what has happened is a landmark development. I had the opportunity yesterday to pay tribute to the Taoiseach on his role and patience in bringing about that position. What does the Taoiseach anticipate in respect of Sinn Féin's participation in the newly constituted policing board and the district partnerships? Is that likely to happen this side of 8 May and will there be progress and development in that regard?

I also ask the Taoiseach about the activity of dissident republicans. I presume he saw the remarks made in the House of Commons yesterday by William McCrea, who asserted that arms were imported into Northern Ireland last week. What, in broad terms, is the intelligence available to the Taoiseach on the threat from dissident republicans in that regard?

North-South bodies have been on a care and maintenance basis since the suspension of the assembly. Is legislation required in this House with regard to their functioning as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement? I wrote to the Taoiseach some weeks ago in that regard and I wonder whether he has had an opportunity to examine the issue? Will he state his position? Was the North-South interparliamentary forum discussed during the negotiations and what is the position now? This has been one of the outstanding issues since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

In respect of our contribution of €400 million to the €1 billion fund advanced by the Chancellor the Exchequer, is that contribution from the Irish Exchequer in addition to the allocation to the North-South projects as envisaged in the national development plan?

There was some unexpected advice by the Government Whip to the Opposition Whips on 13 January regarding a North-South committee. Is that still on the agenda and is it intended that anything will happen in this respect in the lifetime of this Dáil?

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