Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive together.

I should start by saying that I totally condemn Monday night's car bomb attack in Derry. The people who have perpetrated this attack are not representative of the will of the people on this island and they will not be allowed to succeed in undermining the peace process. The ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI will remain critical in tackling this threat. I am glad to say that the current excellent level of cross-Border co-operation in policing and justice matters is unprecedented. The Minister for Justice and Law Reform met with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, Mr. David Ford, twice in recent weeks, and the Government is also in ongoing contact with the British authorities in our joint efforts to combat this threat.

I met with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, MP, in Downing Street on 23 June. At our meeting we discussed recent developments in EU affairs and agreed on the need for continued close engagement between both Governments and administrations on this agenda. On matters relating to Northern Ireland, I expressed my appreciation to the Prime Minister for his handling of the publication of the Saville report into Bloody Sunday and thanked him for his brave apology for the events of that day. We also discussed the potential for the exchange of State visits as part of the normal courtesies between neighbouring countries and reflecting the transformation of relationships between Ireland and Britain. I expect to meet Prime Minister Cameron again at the next meeting of the European Council on 28 October.

I attended a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Guernsey on 25 June. The meeting was hosted by the Chief Minister of Guernsey, Mr Lyndon Trott, and was attended by BIC heads of administration including Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister; Carwyn Jones, Welsh First Minister; and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, as well as Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, representing the British Government.

The main theme of the summit was marine renewables energy. We shared information on the activity currently under way in this area in the different administrations and discussed areas for future co-operation and growth in this sector among member administrations and with the European Commission. We also discussed the economic challenges facing all of the member administrations and shared our experiences on measures being taken to stabilise public finances, repair banking systems, cut costs and boost employment. At the meeting it was also agreed that a standing secretariat for the British-Irish Council would be based in Scotland and that work would begin on the arrangements to put this in place.

I also chaired a plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Farmleigh on Monday, 5 July. A Northern delegation of 12 Ministers was led by the First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. They met with 13 members of the Government. The main items for discussion were the fiscal and economic challenges which face both administrations on the island.

We discussed how both Governments can work together to help bring about an economic recovery and to bring about renewed economic growth and job creation. We gave consideration to how we can improve public services, while still making necessary savings. We discussed areas of shared interest such as banking, NAMA and the implications for Northern Ireland; growing our food industry; attracting EU funding for reconciliation and economic development; and many other areas. We also re-affirmed the Irish Government's commitment to provide part of the funding for a new radiotherapy centre in Derry which will be of huge assistance to cancer patients in Donegal. I firmly believe that the ongoing work of the North-South Ministerial Council can play an increasingly important part in our strategy for economic recovery and can realise benefits for all of the people, North and South.

I also briefed the plenary meeting on the second North-South consultative conference, which took place on 24 May last and which was addressed by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness. Deputies may recall that I addressed the first conference, also facilitated by the Government, which was held in October 2009. The event in May focused on sport and young people and the role that innovation can play in economic recovery on the island. It was well attended by a broad range of participants from these sectors and from the social partners and cross-Border groups. It is intended to hold a further such event in the coming months.

On the issue of the formal establishment of the North-South consultative forum, the Government made a formal proposal on the role, format, membership and operation of the forum to the Northern Ireland Executive in that regard in September 2008. That proposal was agreed followed consultations with the trade unions, other social partners and other non-governmental groups who work on a cross-Border basis. I am glad to say that those groups have been very active participants in the two consultative conferences held to date.

While there have been ongoing discussions since September 2008, including at the NSMC plenary, the Northern Ireland Executive has not yet been in a position to respond formally to our proposal. I am glad to note that the first ever North-South parliamentary forum conference is to take place in Newcastle, County Down, over the next two days. That conference will be attended by representatives from all parties in the Oireachtas and Stormont and will be co-chaired by the Speaker, Mr. William Hay, and the Ceann Comhairle. I understand there is a detailed work programme covering issues such as building parliamentary links with Europe and agriculture and rural development issues, and that the Tánaiste and the British Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Nick Clegg, will be guest speakers at the conference dinner. I commend the Ceann Comhairle and the Speaker for taking this very valuable initiative forward and I trust it will lead in due course to the formal establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum. The next plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council will take place before the end of the year in the North.

I met with Mrs. Margaret Ritchie, leader of the SDLP, in Government Buildings on 20 September. We discussed the latest political developments in the North and the economic challenges facing both jurisdictions. I also held a brief meeting with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, on 19 September. The focus of our discussion was the current economic situation in the North and the concern about the potential impact on the Northern economy of the proposed public expenditure cuts.

I sent my congratulations to Tom Elliott on his recent election as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. I look forward to working with him and his colleagues for the mutual benefit of all those that we represent, especially at this time of great economic difficulty. I have also sent my best wishes to Sir Reg Empey as he steps down as party leader.

With regard to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Clerk of the Dáil received a reply from the Clerk of the House of Commons arising from the Oireachtas resolution of 10 July 2008. As I have said previously in the House, any future follow up to this should be considered in consultation with the parties and can be raised with the Whips. The total amount spent on the MacEntee commission of investigation was €2,632,702. All costs of the commission of investigation have been

discharged. There are no current plans to reconvene the Forum on Peace and Reconciliation.

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