Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The establishment of the North-South consultative forum, provided for in the Good Friday Agreement, has been discussed with the Northern Ireland Executive at all the plenary meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council since the re-establishment of the Executive in May 2007. At those meetings, the Government delegation is led by the Taoiseach, while the Northern Ireland Executive delegation is led by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The plenary meeting in July 2007 noted the intention of the Northern IrelandExecutive first to complete its review of the Northern Ireland civic forum, a body provided for in the Good Friday Agreement for consulting civic society in Northern Ireland. That review is still outstanding.

During 2008, the Government consulted with the social partners and various cross-Border and North-South groups on the establishment of the consultative forum. Following on from this we formally communicated our proposals to the Northern Ireland Executive on the role, format, membership and operation of the forum.

On 15 October 2009, as a contribution to the process leading to the establishment of the forum, the Government facilitated a consultative conference in Farmleigh involving the social partners and other civil society groups from across the island. The conference was opened by the Taoiseach. Participants from across the island came from all traditions, including representatives from business, the trade union movement, agriculture and the community and voluntary sector. There was a wide-ranging discussion on the role of civil society and its capacity to contribute meaningfully to cross-Border co-operation. There was strong support for further such engagement to explore specific areas for co-operation, North and South, at the level of civil society.

A further North-South consultative conference will take place in Dublin on 26 May. As on the occasion in October last, representatives from civil society from both parts of Ireland will participate. The key themes of the conference will relate to sport and young people and innovation, examining in particular the important role that innovation can play in economic recovery, North and South.

The establishment of the formal North-South consultative forum will be further discussed at the next plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, scheduled for 5 July 2010. We will press strongly to have the matter brought to an early conclusion.

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