Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the work of the North-South unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34210/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's objective is the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the restoration of the institutions, including the North-South Ministerial Council. A particular priority is to develop North-South co-operation to the mutual benefit of the people in both parts of the island. The North-South section in my Department works closely with all Departments to advance this objective. It also works closely with the North-South Ministerial Council secretariat in Armagh, including in support of the on-going work of the North-South bodies established under the Agreement.

The North-South section also plays a co-ordinating role in Government activity on North-South issues, regularly chairing meetings of the North-South interdepartmental co-ordinators. The section also takes the lead in encouraging and advancing co-operation at official level through regular meetings of the North-South centre group which brings together senior representatives of the two civil services.

Earlier this year, the Taoiseach and I sought to give an enhanced impetus to North-South co-operation in a memorandum to Government setting out Government policy in this area. All relevant Departments, in conjunction with my Department, undertook a comprehensive review of the scope for co-operation in their areas of responsibility. Key North-South objectives and projects were identified. My Department, in accordance with its overall co-ordination role, and the Department of the Taoiseach, are working closely to assist Departments in advancing these objectives via the established North-South channels and in close contact with the British Government. In addition, I have reviewed the potential for progress in these areas in a series of meetings with the private sector, including the IBEC, CBI joint business council and the North-South round table group, as well as setting out our thinking in a number of public speeches to interested groups.

The development of North-South co-operation has a high priority in our consultations with the British Government. For instance, we regularly review the scope for progress in meetings of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference. At the most recent BIIGC on 19 October, the two Governments noted the advances being made in a number of key projects, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal, inadvertent mobile roaming charges, the creation of an all-island energy market and the extension of the all-island free travel scheme. It is planned to conduct a further strategic review of the potential in this area at the next meeting of the BIIGC in January.