Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The point under discussion is a tiding over mechanism until the institutions can be restored. Although the North-South Ministerial Council is no longer in existence, or at least is in suspension, it would be difficult to get anybody to work in them if there is a stop-go situation. I wish to use this opportunity to express my support for all the people who work in these Implementation Bodies under quite difficult political circumstances. It is stated in the preamble to the Agreement that all the institutions are interdependent and it is probably the case that it might be difficult – I do not want to predetermine it – to keep the implementation bodies going indefinitely without the other institutions in the Agreement. As long as there is a reasonable prospect of a restoration within a reasonable period of time, this is an appropriate mechanism and I take it, even from the relative lack of political controversy about it, there is tacit consent at any rate to that by all the parties in Northern Ireland.