Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

We have been consistent and have conformed to the law and convention on this matter. The original British-Irish Agreement Act was commenced by the Taoiseach because all the relevant bodies were interlinked under the Government. Responsibility for funding the bodies has had to be assigned to parent Departments. The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, for example, is funded on our side by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Foras na Gaeilge comes under and is funded by of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Food Safety Promotion Board comes under and is funded by the Department of Health and Children. InterTradeIreland comes under and is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Waterways Ireland comes under and is funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Special EU Programmes Body is assigned to and funded by the Department of Finance. As a result, the Bill must be signed and accepted by the Minister for Finance.

This is not a money Bill, as we could not initiate one in Seanad Éireann. It is concerned with changing the rules vis-À-vis changes that have taken place concerning the financial perspectives of the European Union with regard to the creation of a new structure for disbursement of INTERREG funds, as there will now be extraterritorial funds. Following the passing of the Bill we will be able to co-operate not only with the North of Ireland but with Scotland. The commencement order was used to manage the process with Northern Ireland in the past, and as soon as the President signs, the Minister for Finance will move to commence the Bill as soon as possible.