Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I have tabled five of the 11 questions being taken together. The reply illustrates a certain sense of drift in North-South relations. I get no sense of urgency or active engagement between the Governments on the North-South agenda. In concrete terms there is no real urgency in pushing co-operation forward or in fulfilling the potential of the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement. We should remember that the Good Friday Agreement is about a process, not an end in itself. I have no sense that the Government, with the British Government, are committed with the parties in Northern Ireland and the Executive in having a far more effective and productive North-South delivery and engagement into the future. It seems that little substantive time has been given by the Irish and British Governments to North-South issues during the past 12 months. There is a sense of drift and a lack of anything new. Will the Taoiseach indicate to me in concrete terms what advances have been made in the North-South agenda in the past year? Has anything concrete emerged in terms of the timetable for the establishment of the North-South parliamentary forum? Regarding the review of North-South bodies, has the creation of additional bodies, in particular one to replace the Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, been discussed? When are we likely to see progress in the review of North-South bodies?

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