Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach will be aware that under the Good Friday Agreement, six new North-South bodies were set up. I am well aware of the sensitivities that applied ten years ago when the Agreement was adopted, signed and voted on by the peoples, North and South, but surely we should be in a position, having moved on to a time of peace and progress, to consider these bodies for all-island status. Has consideration been given to that by the Government in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Assembly? Why do we have to have six North-South bodies, given the economic challenge that exists, North and South? Is this not an area in which the Taoiseach could give leadership and state that, instead of having six separate bodies, we should have all-island entities, reduce the number and increase their effectiveness?

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