Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the issue of animal health, even prior to the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement, there has always been a very good practical and pragmatic relationship between the Departments of Agriculture, North and South, on the issue of brucellosis. If the Deputy reads the progress report of the joint secretaries to the North-South Ministerial Council - the communiqué issued after the meeting in Dublin on 5 July - he will see it makes specific reference to agreement on an all-island animal health and welfare strategy which has been promoted proactively by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Gildernew.

On the question of funding, the progress on the implementation of the EU peace programme and INTERREG programmes is also referred to in the communiqué. Projects already approved under PEACE III have a total budget of €171.8 million or £156.2 million. Projects approved under INTERREG have a budget of €103.7 million or £94.3 million. This is an indication of the considerable efforts that are being made by both finance ministries to ensure projects under the programmes are approved and proceed.

With regard to the other matter raised, I refer the Deputy to the response I gave to Deputy Ferris.

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