Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA, and I meet with some regularity and also talk on the phone with some regularity about particular issues when they arise. So there is no shortage of connectivity between us.

When the North-South Ministerial Council meetings were established, it was not envisaged, for reasons of which the Deputy is aware, that justice would be formally included within them. There was certainly at least one meeting if not more attended by the Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA, and me, at which there were issues of relevance to the justice area that may also have had overlapping impacts on other areas. We have informally attended meetings where necessary where there have been issues on the agenda. I am very happy to meet the Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA. We meet in Dublin and in Belfast. We have met at a variety of events. From example, from recollection the probation officers North and South have an annual seminar which alternates between North and South. We have met at those occasions. We met on separate occasions and there is no lack of connectivity between us in any respect or of any nature.

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