Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think everyone in the Chamber will welcome the ongoing good news from the North since the power-sharing Executive was set up under the leadership of Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly. In their acceptance speeches, both stressed the importance of the Executive being for all the people of the North. In exercising that fundamental principle, the Executive will also be acting in the interests of all the people of Ireland through the North-South bodies of the Good Friday Agreement, including the North-South Ministerial Council which involves the Irish Government. I know that at the meeting between the Tánaiste, Taoiseach, and president and vice-president of Sinn Féin, it was asked that the North-South Ministerial Council meet without delay. I ask for the Leader's comment on that institution.

There is good news, positivity and good momentum in the North at the moment, which are reflected in the day-to-day work of the Executive and the decisions it has taken. It is particularly welcome that the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, a DUP minister, has signed off on and agreed to oversee the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast. I think everyone here will welcome that. It was also great to see the First Minister and deputy First Minister visiting projects in north Belfast and the women's centre on the Shankill Road in west Belfast. On his first engagement as education minister, the DUP's Paul Given visited Rathmore Grammar School, a Catholic school in south Belfast. Conor Murphy also met the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to discuss IntertradeIreland and Derry's airport. On both occasions, he spoke about the importance of developing the all-island economy, and his belief that the people of the North would be better off in a united Ireland. The collective message from the ministers, as they carry out their engagements, is one of positivity. That is to be welcomed. I would welcome if the Leader commented on the North-South Ministerial Council.