Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Regarding the bill of rights for Northern Ireland, I reiterate the commitment of the Government to ensure the full and effective implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement. In that context we attach importance to a specific bill of rights for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement. The Government has consistently communicated that position in contacts with the current British Administration and with the Conservative Party Front Bench.

The work of the forum on a bill of rights and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has made a significant and important contribution to the bill of rights process. I look forward to the consultation document currently being prepared by the Northern Ireland Office bringing us closer to the enactment of a bill of rights for Northern Ireland. I would like to see that brought into the public domain as soon as possible.

Regarding other issues in our own jurisdiction, no body - however important or august - can regard itself as immune from an exercise in expenditure savings that is necessary for the future development of the country.

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