Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

The St. Andrews Agreement of 2006 was aimed at achieving full and effective operation of the political institutions in Northern Ireland, which has been achieved. The devolution of justice and policing powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2010 was a significant step forward in the full implementation of the St. Andrews Agreement. Following the 2011 election, the Alliance Party leader David Ford was reappointed as Minister of Justice by cross-community vote and earlier this year the Executive agreed to extend his mandate beyond the April 2012 sunset clause provided for in the Hillsborough Agreement.

On strand 2 issues, it provided for a review of the existing North-South bodies to examine them from the points of view of efficiency and value for money.

It was also agreed that the review would look at the case for additional North-South bodies and areas of co-operation, as well as a replacement for the Irish Lights Agency. In regard to the first element of the review, on value for money and efficiency of the North-South bodies, it was agreed at the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on 15 June 2012 to endorse the recommendations concerning the various bodies that had been made by the review group and agreed by Ministers at the relevant sectoral meetings. Progress has been disappointingly slow with regard to the second and third terms of reference of the review, which include the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the North-South Ministerial Council. It was agreed at the last plenary meeting on 15 June that the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Tánaiste and I will reflect and consult with a view to decisions being taken at the next plenary meeting. While these consultations have yet to be concluded, I hope progress can be made at the next plenary meeting on 2 November in Armagh.

The establishment of a North-South parliamentary forum was proposed as an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement. In addition to playing an important role in building understanding and co-operation for the common good of everyone on the island, such a forum would also have a valuable role in advising the Government and the Executive on economic, social and cultural issues with a cross-Border dimension. Following discussions and consultations, the Ceann Comhairle and the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Willie Hay, announced in July of this year that agreement had been reached on the establishment of the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association. The association will provide a forum for regular and formal discussions between Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas on issues of mutual interest and concern, as envisaged in the agreements. Under its terms of reference, the association will meet twice yearly on a rotational basis. This historic milestone is another major stepping stone in the peace process and should be recognised as such. I have already congratulated the Ceann Comhairle on his intensive efforts and those of the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. I do so again now. I welcome the holding of the inaugural plenary meeting of the association the Seanad Chamber on Friday, 12 October 2012. I understand it was very successful.

The establishment of a North-South consultative forum has been discussed at all plenary meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council since the institutions were restored in 2007. In the interim, the Government facilitated three consultative conferences in Farmleigh, involving social partners and other civil society groups from across the island. Despite this, progress has not been made. Regrettably, it appears that the Executive will be unable to advance the issue for the moment. The establishment of the British-Irish Council secretariat earlier this year in Edinburgh is to be welcomed. Together with my relevant ministerial colleagues, I have attended three plenary meetings of the British-Irish Council. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 26 November in Wales. A limited number of areas relating to the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement remain to be implemented. A bill of rights for Northern Ireland is currently under consideration by the British Government following a public consultation in Northern Ireland. The key issue of an Irish language act, as agreed at St. Andrews, remains unresolved. Some progress has been made in securing measures to promote and protect the Irish language and Ulster Scots, which have been the subject of recent consultation strategy papers by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. I hope to see progress on these outstanding issues.

Since my Government came into office, Ministers have attended over 17 North-South Ministerial Council sectoral meetings. I have attended three plenary meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. Across a range of issues, the North-South Ministerial Council is facilitating economic and social activities on a cross-Border, all-island basis. The next plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, which takes place on Friday, 2 November in Armagh, will be hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the European Union. In this context, the Government is maximising North-South engagement in the run-up to and during the Irish Presidency, including opportunities for participation in Presidency-related events and the secondment of a small number of officials from the Northern Civil Service to work in our system. The North-South Ministerial Council will consider possible future EU programmes and ongoing co-operation on a range of North South co-operation initiatives. There may be an opportunity to discuss the north-west gateway initiative. I also intend to welcome the inaugural plenary meeting of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association.

The House will be aware that I have initiated a number of sensitive meetings with the families of victims on all sides to hear at first hand how their lives have been affected by atrocities from the Troubles. I have met the families of victims of the Kingsmills massacre and victims of the Troubles in east Fermanagh. My officials recently met the Ballymurphy families as part of the preparations for a meeting with me. My colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Deenihan, is working proactively with his counterpart in the Northern Executive to ensure the decade of centenaries is celebrated on a shared basis and with respect. We welcomed the 29 September event celebrating the Ulster Covenant as a central part of this process, albeit with concerns around some aspects of parading. The conflict in Northern Ireland which dominated the British-Irish relationship for decades has been replaced with a peace process opening a space for a relationship to develop which "has never been stronger or more settled". Last year marked a turning point in British-Irish relations, which began with the visit to Ireland of Queen Elizabeth. By any standard, the events of those four days were groundbreaking. The visit was and is rightly a source of great pride for all the people of these islands. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, and I agreed that our joint statement of 12 March last would be the starting point for the realisation of the potential over the next decade of stronger relations for current and future generations living on both islands. The joint statement now provides a framework within which work is being carried forward on further joint actions and collaboration over the medium to longer term.

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