Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together.

Since I have taken office I have visited Northern Ireland on four separate occasions. The first, sadly, was to attend the funeral of PSNI Officer Ronan Kerr who was killed just over one year ago. I attended the opening of the new Peace Bridge in Derry last June which was a highly symbolic visit. In November I visited Belfast for a number of engagements, following which I attended the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, in Armagh. I returned to Belfast on 19 April when I gave the annual Chancellor's lecture at the University of Ulster.

The Government strongly supports the efforts of the Northern Ireland Executive and as co-guarantor of the peace process with the British Government, we wish to see the stable political and security situation continue in Northern Ireland. I have met the First and Deputy First Ministers on several occasions, both in Northern Ireland and in this jurisdiction, including at events such as the presidential inauguration and during the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. My discussions with them have always been constructive as we seek to engage on a range of issues affecting both jurisdictions. I have met with a variety of other Northern Ireland politicians both during my visits to Northern Ireland and in Dublin, including most recently Mr. Mike Nesbitt, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and his deputy leader, Mr. John McCallister.

Contact at ministerial level North and South continues throughout the year through a programme of meetings that are held between plenary sessions of the North-South Ministerial Council. The NSMC institutional meeting took place on 27 April and was chaired by my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I hosted the 14th NSMC plenary meeting in Dublin on Friday, 15 June. There was a very good discussion between members of the Cabinet and the Northern Ireland Executive including on the economic situation both at home and across the European Union. Jobs and growth are absolute priorities for us all. I indicated that the Government will work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in the lead up to and during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union to be held from 1 January 2013. We also discussed a range of important issues of common interest including bank restructuring and NAMA and other areas where the NSMC has seen good progress such as in education, health, research and innovation, transport and tourism. Both you, a Cheann Comhairle, and Speaker Hay are to be commended for the efforts they have made and are making in respect of the North-South parliamentary forum. We recognise the importance to our economies and tourism sectors of major events such as the forthcoming Irish Open in Portrush; the success this year of the Titanic experience in Belfast, which has and is attracting record crowds; and next year The Gathering; the Derry City of Culture; and the Fleadh Cheoil.

We reviewed progress on the A5-A8 roads projects. The A5 is of particular importance to the north west as it will greatly improve connections between the region and Dublin and Belfast. Despite the very difficult economic situation we face, the Government remains committed to this project. At the plenary meeting last Friday, I again reaffirmed our commitment to contribute £22 million sterling in each year 2015 and 2016 which will enable two major sections of the roads project to proceed. I also made it clear that we will examine the prospect of an additional funding contribution after 2016, in the context of our next capital expenditure review framework, which is likely to be in 2015.

We noted the good progress that has been made in other areas of North-South co-operation, such as the north-west gateway initiative. We also discussed some of the institutional aspects of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements, including on the North-South parliamentary forum. A programme of North-South Ministerial Council meetings, up to the next plenary meeting to take place in November, was agreed. In summary, North-South co-operation is progressing steadily. I recognise that there is room for greater levels of co-operation to the mutual benefit of everyone on the island. Through the framework of the NSMC I look forward to seeing further progress being made in this regard over the coming period.

The next British-Irish Council Summit will take place in Stirling, Scotland this Friday, 22 June. Its main theme will be marine energy and there will also be a focus on youth unemployment, a topic we discussed at the previous British-Irish Council Summit which I hosted in Dublin in January.

As I said recently in a reply in this House I hope to be in a position to visit Belfast again shortly. Arrangements will be made in due course for that visit.

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