Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding allocated by his Department to cross-Border bodies since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25425/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Arising from the Good Friday Agreement, six North-South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland were established. These bodies play a significant role in taking forward North-South co-operation on the island. The North-South Implementation Bodies are jointly funded by the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Funding from each jurisdiction is provided on an agreed proportionate basis having regard to the benefits accruing to each jurisdiction and specific factors related to each sector.

The funding of the individual bodies is a matter for the responsible Department in each case. Total funding for the bodies from both jurisdictions from 2001 until 2006 amounted to €842.3 million. In 2006, Government funding for the bodies was €116.5 million, which was 69.45% of total funding provided that year.

Having operated in a somewhat difficult climate during suspension, restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and the resumption of full operations of the North-South Ministerial Council means there is now scope for the Implementation Bodies to achieve their full potential. Since the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive, Ministers have had a range of extremely useful and productive meetings with their Northern counterparts, both in the North-South Ministerial Council and in other contacts. I attended the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh in July — the first in five years. The meeting was positive, with open and constructive discussion on the potential for economic co-operation to bring real benefits to the people of this island, North and South.

The plenary meeting resulted in several important decisions. We agreed a major roads infrastructure programme to include the upgrade of the road serving the North-west gateway of Derry-Letterkenny, supported by Government investment of €580 million. We also agreed on the restoration of the Ulster Canal from Clones to Lough Erne. This project will be a major boost to the Border counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh. We also discussed various other projects, including the Government's support for a bridge at Narrow Water linking Counties Louth and Down to the benefit of tourism in the region.

A further plenary meeting, to be co-chaired by the Taoiseach and the First and Deputy First Ministers and attended by other Ministers, is planned for Dundalk before Christmas. I will host an institutional meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Dundalk on 30 October. In addition, a programme of 11 sectoral ministerial meetings is already under way and will be completed before the end of the year.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My colleagues and I welcome the allocation of funding to the Implementation Bodies. The Good Friday Agreement had the overwhelming support of the people of this island, including the support of all political parties in this House. Does the Minister agree there is a responsibility on both Governments to oversee the implementation of the Agreement and that the functioning of the Assembly is at a delicate stage? Does the Minister feel comfortable with the decision of his own party to look at extending its base into the Six Counties, particularly as the Minister has been appointed head of the party committee investigating such a possibility? Does he, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, feel there is a conflict with his role as a Fianna Fáil emissary in overseeing such an agreement?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On the contrary, my position as Minister for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Northern Ireland affairs and cross-Border co-operation would be enhanced by my party's consideration of a move across the Border. When my party was founded, de Valera on many occasions stated it should never be a 26-county party. As I recently stated publicly, a northern Unionist mentioned to the Taoiseach that it would not be logical for a party like Fianna Fáil to continue to be a 26-county party if we espouse a united Ireland, which we do.

From that perspective, such a move is quite logical given that the political landscape has changed very dramatically since 8 May. Substantial numbers of people wish to join my political party across the Border and at a recent university freshers' week, we were inundated with applications from people from both communities within Northern Ireland to join my political party.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I suggest that the Minister be answerable to the House for those issues for which he has a constitutional responsibility.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister was looking to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle before he even intervened. I thank the Minister for his reply but I would urge caution. He quoted a Unionist figure who stated it would be logical for Fianna Fáil to extend into the Six Counties. Has the Minister, in his official capacity, had any representations from groups who have expressed concern at such a possible development?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The question should relate to the Minister's responsibilities to the House under the Constitution or the law.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a bit of a grey area.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Having said that, the Minister may wish to reply.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There seemed to be fairly universal support for the concept. As I have stated publicly, it is not a step we will take in the near future, but we will consider it strategically and carefully. As a significant party in Government, any moves clearly would have to be carried out with one eye on political stability and equilibrium built into the Good Friday Agreement. We would never put that in jeopardy.

To come to the constitutional issue regarding the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, a new Oireachtas committee will be put in place to oversee the issues flowing from that and we should all welcome that move.