Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I stated, we are very anxious to move forward on all of these issues and the Government stands ready to do so. The Executive in Northern Ireland is under the second and third requirements in the St. Andrews review. It has to come forward with the internal outcome of that review process. The prospect of getting some decisions at the North-South review is dependent on getting some agreement in the Executive as to what proposals it will make.

I honestly believe this is a matter that should be progressed. As I stated, we require the agreement of all concerned. I believe the record of co-operation in areas where we have been able to proceed with co-operation has been to everyone's benefit. There is a greater degree of potential in all of these arrangements and I believe that the level of trust and co-operation can and should be such as to regard expanding these areas of co-operation as being a matter of practical benefit and mutual benefit to all. I hope these matters can be progressed as quickly as possible and we stand ready to do so.

We attach importance to the provisions of the agreement, which foresaw an organic build-up of structures which will serve the people, North and South. The issue with regard to the Commissioners of Irish Lights has not been resolved in terms of having an alternative implementation body in another area but what we have should not be regarded as either the beginning or the end of the matter.

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