Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The work of the interdepartmental groups is continuing. Work relating to the North-South bodies is moving from the previous agenda towards matters involving more economic co-operation. I refer in this regard to work involving the North-South Ministerial Council and the other relevant councils that are now thankfully meeting either weekly or a number of times each week. The work and input of my Department in respect of these bodies and in co-ordinating their activities is probably more intense now that all of them are up and running. My Department is also involved, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs, in setting the agenda for the British-Irish Council. It is hoped that we will soon be working on matters involving the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Assembly in Northern Ireland.

The level of activity relating to the North-South bodies, particularly the Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council, is growing on a weekly basis. We are in the process of arranging meetings for 2008. It is likely that there will be three sets of meetings in 2008 if we cannot — as a result of the important meetings to take place in the United States — arrange to hold meetings before Christmas. The meetings will be held either just before or just after Christmas. The activity, agenda and workload relating to these are being progressed.

As the Deputy is aware, the all-island energy market came into effect last week and there are many other areas in respect of which there is cross-departmental co-operation. The bodies are up and running again and are very active.

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