Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy. Historically, much of the leadership in the area of contact and working together has been in sporting and other voluntary organisations which have always ensured, to the greatest extent possible, that politics has not been allowed to hinder or in any way separate contact between people who have common interests, whether these be sporting, recreational, cultural or any other. In terms of democratic authority, quite rightly the emphasis has been on the need for parties to come to a rapprochement on how to govern the island, North and South, in a way that was conducive to peace, prosperity and stability. However, without doubt there have been ongoing contacts where very good relationships have built up within organisations, North and South. They helped greatly to dismiss many of the myths, misunderstandings and shibboleths that grew up during an era of misunderstanding and lack of contact, prior to those organisations filling that void.

With regard to the civic forum, let us remind ourselves that a consultative civic forum was established in Northern Ireland which comprised business, trade unions and voluntary sectors. Having established a civic forum, and despite good progress in discussions, the North-South consultative aspect of the Good Friday Agreement in this respect had not been established when the political institutions were suspended in 2002. We are trying to regain momentum in the aftermath of the St. Andrews Agreement of 2006 to support the establishment of an independent, North-South consultative forum appointed by the two administrations and representative of civil society. It would include and build on the very solid foundations the Deputy adverted to in his question.

The Deputy asked about the future of the civic forum. The present technical position is that it is being reviewed by the new Northern Ireland Executive. The matter was discussed by the two administrations at their meeting in July 2007. The meeting noted that the Irish Government was anxious to proceed and was consulting with social partners and that, when it was completed, the review of arrangements for consulting civic society in Northern Ireland should allow the parties to consider the question. I hope that review is near completion.

We have held consultations with social partners, as we indicated we would. We are also seeking the views of cross-Border, North-South and other interested bodies and organisations. This has been kicking around the House for some time. Everybody knows what its shape, intent, purpose and benefit would be. Its implementation requires some political will to emanate from the Northern Ireland Executive and from the joint offices of the First and Deputy First Ministers. I trust that their resumed relationship will be fruitful in this respect as it must be in others.

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