Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Has the Taoiseach taken the opportunity to address, with the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the British Prime Minister, the importance of moving on with the proposal to move policing and justice powers from London to Belfast? Does he agree this is long overdue and is essential as an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement and all that was promised therein? Does he also agree that for the new dispensation to function in the North, we need to see a new beginning to policing and justice? Therefore, will the Taoiseach undertake to renew his efforts to encourage all concerned to move quickly to put policing and justice firmly in place in Belfast?

I note from various print media this morning the progress reported from yesterday's all-Ireland ministerial council meeting with regard to a number of projects. I have questions with regard to a number of those projects - outworkings of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement - including the A5 which joins up with the N2 on this side of the Border and which will complete the Dublin-Derry-Donegal connections. The Taoiseach stated that confirmation of the expected routes would be announced shortly. Can he be more specific as to when we will have the detail? When does he expect this will be announced?

With regard to two further elements to which reference was made, was there any progress on the Ulster canal project? Can the Taoiseach give us an indication of the current status and the intention of both Administrations for this flagship project which is of tremendous importance and which has the potential to bring about significant economic rejuvenation of the Border counties, North and South? Also, with regard to the Government's withdrawal of funding from the all-Ireland autism centre for excellence at Middletown in County Armagh, a joint North-South project, is there any change in the Government's position with regard to the indication by the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, of a withdrawal of funding already committed for the development of that centre this year? Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Government will restore its joint commitment to the development of that important project for children with autism on this island?

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