Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise with the British Government the issue of the continuing deployment of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in southArmagh; and if he will request their removal from the area. [30965/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Members of the British Armed Forces, including members of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, are currently involved in an extensive programme of demilitarisation in south Armagh. This programme includes the removal of the army base at Forkhill, the removal of the super-sangar at Newtownhamilton and the progressive removal of army surveillance posts and army bases.

Officials from my Department visited the area last week. On that occasion, a Sinn Féin representative, in discussion with them, expressed satisfaction to them with the manner in which the demilitarisation process was proceeding. The army civilian representatives regularly brief local community leaders on the work, and there have been no difficulties so far with local residents.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Hain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30982/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Hain, in Dublin on 19 October when we jointly chaired a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. This was the first meeting of the conference since June, when it met at summit level. We had a useful and constructive meeting. I was accompanied by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell. The Secretary of State was accompanied by Ministers David Hanson and Shaun Woodward of the Northern Ireland Office.

The conference reviewed recent political developments and reaffirmed its belief that the restoration of devolved government on an inclusive basis was in the best interests of all in Northern Ireland. It also welcomed the recent confirmation by the IICD that IRA weapons had been fully and verifiably decommissioned, and it likewise noted the seventh report of the International Monitoring Commission which was published on the same day.

The two Governments agreed to consult with the parties over the coming weeks to take stock of progress to date and to help build momentum towards the restoration of devolved government on an inclusive basis. We had a valuable discussion on current policing issues and reiterated the commitment of the two Governments to fully implementing the Patten report. We agreed that a sustained effort was required by all parties to build consensus on policing and to secure support for the police from the entire community.

We also discussed the recent upsurge in sectarian attacks and in street violence. Both governments strongly condemned all sectarian crime and intimidation. We agreed that the type of sectarian violence and intimidation witnessed in recent months was totally unacceptable, and called on political leaders to use their influence to bring this violence to an end. The conference also strongly condemned the violence resulting from the loyalist feud.

We discussed the question of parades, welcoming that most parades had passed off peacefully this summer and condemning the violence and rioting that had taken place on a limited number of occasions. In this regard, we paid tribute to the work of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission in managing contentious parades this summer and throughout its term of office.

Both Governments reiterated their resolve to advance work in the areas of equality and human rights. We affirmed our joint commitment to tackling inequality and disadvantage on the basis of objective need. In that context, the conference also reviewed progress on tackling the differential in unemployment between the two communities.

The conference had a positive discussion on the ongoing work of the North-South bodies and of the British-Irish Council. I particularly welcome the agreement we reached in principle on the extension of the all-island travel scheme throughout the island. We also discussed progress towards the creation of a single electricity market by July 2007 and to tackling the issue of inadvertent mobile telephone roaming charges, an issue which affects businesses and communities on both sides of the Border. The conference also welcomed the recent agreement to review the feasibility of restoring a section of the Ulster Canal, a project that would bring real economic benefit to communities on both sides of the Border.

We also endorsed the practical ongoing co-operation between the two Governments and between the relevant authorities on public health emergency planning, particularly in the context of the current concerns about the spread of avian influenza. We also expressed our support for efforts to bring the World Rally Championship to Ireland in 2007. The joint communiqué which was issued after the conference outlines in detail the issues we discussed. A copy of this communiqué has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. The next meeting of the conference is due to take place in early January.