Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his dealings with the new power sharing administration in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21938/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive on 8 May last was the culmination of the Government's intensive work, in partnership with the British Government, to achieve full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the sustained operation of all its institutions. As a member of the Government delegation at Stormont on that occasion, I had the opportunity to meet with the First and Deputy First Ministers and the new Ministers in the Executive.

Since restoration of the Assembly and Executive on 8 May, the North-South and East-West institutions established under the Agreement have been working well and with full participation by the Northern Ireland Executive.

I accompanied the Taoiseach to the ninth Summit meeting (and the first since devolved government was restored in Northern Ireland) of the British-Irish Council in Belfast on 16 July. First Minister Paisley and Deputy First Minister Mc Guinness, together with relevant ministerial colleagues, represented the Northern Ireland Executive. The Summit was a positive, business-like and constructive event. We had a very useful discussion on strategic transport and agreed to examine the potential for further cooperation and collaboration in relation to transport planning and investment. Recognising the potential of the BIC to strengthen relations between its members and to develop cooperation further between them across a range of sectors of mutual interest and benefit, the Council agreed it is now opportune to review the future direction of the BIC.

The following day, I participated in the Plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Armagh. The Taoiseach led a delegation of Government Ministers to meet with the First Minister, Ian Paisley, the deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive.

We had an open discussion on many issues of common interest, North and South, including economic challenges, and considered how we might work together for our mutual benefit.

The Council took a number of important decisions. We agreed two major infrastructure projects: an investment of €580 million /£400 million to upgrade the road in the North serving Derry and Letterkenny; and the restoration of the Ulster Canal from Clones to Lough Erne.

Upgrading the road to Derry and Letterkenny to dual-carriageway status will bring significant benefits for people living throughout the North West. Restoring the Ulster Canal will give a major boost to tourism and economic development in the border areas of Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh.

We also discussed other potential infrastructure projects, including the Irish Government commitment to support the development of a bridge at Narrow Water linking Carlingford with Warrenpoint and enhancing tourist links between County Louth and County Down.

We agreed at the Plenary to take forward the review, provided for in the St. Andrews Agreement, of the North/South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation. The review will report back to the first NSMC Summit in 2008.

The Council also agreed a busy schedule of NSMC sectoral meetings to take place through the autumn. The first such meeting took place earlier this month, on 14 September, when the Minister for Transport met with his Northern counterpart in the NSMC transport sector.

I am planning to meet with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister in the Institutional format of the NSMC before the end of the year.

I am also looking forward to participating in the next NSMC Plenary meeting, which will be held in Dundalk later this year. In addition a further Summit meeting will be hosted by the Government in the course of 2008.

Since restoration engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive has been extremely positive. The Government is committed to working with the new Executive and political representatives in Northern Ireland to address the many issues of mutual concern in a spirit of partnership and friendship. I look forward to continued productive engagement and cooperation with Northern colleagues in the period ahead.