Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I understand that one of the decisions made at the North-South Ministerial Council was to establish two working groups to look at the idea of progressing the North-South parliamentary body promised or intended to be established following the Good Friday Agreement. I have raised this issue previously, but little or no progress has been made on establishing the North-South parliamentary body. What is the intention with regard to the working groups? Is there a timetable within which they must report and when, realistically, might we see some progress being made on the establishment of a North-South parliamentary body?

There has been a suggestion from the DUP that the number of Ministries in the Northern Ireland Executive might be reduced. I understand this suggestion is being advanced as a kind of cost-cutting measure in the current economic environment. While I can see there would be political temptation on the part of the DUP and, perhaps, Sinn Féin to reduce the number of Ministries, which would have consequences for the SDLP and the UUP, this would hardly help the overall political structure and framework in Northern Ireland. What is the Taoiseach's view of the suggestion regarding a reduction in the number of Ministries? If the number of Ministries is reduced will there be consequential changes in the method of appointment of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure broad cross-party representation?

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