Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 18, inclusive, together.

I met the newly elected leader of the SDLP, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell, on Wednesday, 9 November, during the course of his visit to Dublin. I congratulated him on winning the party leadership and assured him of my support and co-operation in the period ahead. We also agreed to strengthen co-operation at political and official level between the Government and the SDLP.

On Thursday, 17 November, I travelled to Belfast for my first visit to the city since becoming Taoiseach. I paid a courtesy call on the Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, at Stormont Castle.

I also visited two community projects. My first call was at the East Belfast Mission on the Newtownards Road. I then visited the Short Strand Community Centre in Beechfield Street. In both cases, I met local community representatives and was greatly impressed by the work being carried out in both centres.

I was the guest of honour at the annual Aisling Awards where I delivered the keynote address. I also had the privilege of presenting the Aisling Person of the Year Award to Ms Geraldine Finucane.

Prior to the awards ceremony, I met Ms Finucane, members of her family and their solicitor, Mr. Peter Madden. We discussed the issue of a public inquiry into the death of her husband, Mr. Pat Finucane. I reiterated the Government's firm position referring to the all-party Oireachtas motion calling for a public inquiry and referred to my conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, prior to his recent meeting with the Finucane family when I reiterated the Government's position.

As I have previously stated on the record of this House, my Government is committed on this issue on the basis of the all-party motion and of giving whatever help we can to Ms Finucane and her family in their continuing search for the truth through an independent public inquiry. Officials from my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have met the family since I met them in Belfast to examine how further assistance, particularly in the US, could be arranged.

On the Friday morning, I attended a business breakfast event in Belfast where I addressed 70 members of the Northern Ireland Business Alliance representing the business community and organisations in Northern Ireland. I also met the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall Ó Donnghaile, and cross-party members of Belfast City Council when I visited Belfast City Hall.

Following my visit to Belfast, I travelled to Armagh to attend the North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting. This was the 13th meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council and was co-chaired by the First and Deputy First Ministers.

We discussed a wide range of shared issues, including the economic challenges we both face against a backdrop of fiscal contraction in the European Union and global economies. I briefed the Northern Ireland Executive on our cost saving plans and on our continued efforts in reducing the deficit.

We discussed areas of co-operation, including on NAMA and the banks, and also opportunities to make efficiencies and mutual savings through co-operating in areas where it makes sense to do so. We also explored potential collaboration to meet the emerging challenges in third level education and reviewed the important contribution that the agrifood sector could make to the economy.

We approved the appointment of members to the boards of the North-South implementation bodies and directors of Tourism Ireland for the next four years and expressed appreciation for the work of the outgoing members and directors.

The importance of tourism to the economy and jobs, North and South, is well recognised and events such as the MTV EMA awards recently held in Belfast with significant international audiences highlights the potential of the sector. In that context, we explored opportunities to work together to maximise the benefits of forthcoming initiatives both North and South, including the Titanic centenary in 2012 and the Derry City of Culture and "The Gathering" in 2013. We also discussed the north-west gateway initiative and agreed on the next steps to make further progress which will be subject to a report to the next meeting of the council.

We discussed the Government's recent decision to defer further investment in the A5 - north-west gateway to Aughnacloy - and A8 - Belfast to Larne - road projects. I previously discussed this with the First and Deputy First Ministers when I met them on the margins of the presidential inauguration in Dublin Castle and we discussed the matter again when we met in Stormont Castle on Thursday last. On each occasion I made it clear that the Government's decision is to defer, and not abandon, these important projects. At the North-South Ministerial Council plenary we approved a payment of £3 million in accordance with the previously agreed procedure in respect of a milestone reached in the project. The Government's commitment to realising these projects through our undertaking to provide £25 million for each year 2015 and 2016 was acknowledged. The relevant Departments have now been mandated to prepare a new funding and implementation plan in this context.

Progress on the St. Andrews review was discussed and proposals were agreed to advance the review with a view to taking decisions at the next plenary meeting in June 2012.

We also discussed ways to progress movement on the North-South consultative forum and agreed to finalise our deliberations on this matter at the June 2012 meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council. We welcomed the work undertaken over a number of joint meetings by the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly towards a North-South parliamentary forum and look forward to the outcome of the next joint meeting on 15 December.

Finally, Ministers approved a comprehensive schedule of NSMC meetings, including a NSMC institutional meeting in spring 2012 and the next NSMC plenary meeting on 15 June 2012, which will be held here in the Republic.

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