Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I met Tom Elliott MLA, the new leader of the UUP recently when he attended a cross-Border tourism conference arranged by my party in Donegal. At that meeting, he highlighted the role of the six official North-South bodies, namely, Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board, InterTradeIreland, the Special European Union Programmes Body, the language body comprising Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch, and the Foyle, Carlingford and Commissioners of Irish Lights.

At its plenary session on 17 July, the North-South Ministerial Council agreed to take forward the review of the North-South implementation bodies and areas for co-operation as provided for in the St. Andrews Agreement. Does the Taoiseach have any indication on when this report is expected? Is there a cost for the 30 month review process that has taken place? Is it the Taoiseach's opinion that the six bodies established at the beginning have fulfilled their remit? Is there a need for them to continue in their original form? Does he have any information from the review process as to where the future lies for them?

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