Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with the Executive and with the British Government regarding the establishment of the All-Ireland Parliamentary Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15871/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment to develop a joint parliamentary forum, which would bring together members from the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is contained in both the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements.

In July 2007, at the first meeting of the North South Ministerial Council following restoration of the Institutions, the Council "recognised that any development of a joint parliamentary forum is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas". At that time provision was also made for officials from the two administrations to make contact with the Oireachtas and Assembly and to report back to the NSMC at the earliest opportunity on the prospects for the development of such a forum.

I have therefore had discussions on this matter with members of the Northern Ireland Executive within the framework of the NSMC, bearing in mind the primacy of the Oireachtas on this issue. I can advise the House that at the last NSMC Plenary in January, the Council "noted the ongoing discussions between the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly on the North South Parliamentary Forum and noted the agreement to establish two working groups to develop proposals for such a body".

I have not had discussions with the British Government on this issue.

It should be emphasised that, as work continues toward the setting-up of a North South parliamentary forum, contacts between members of the Oireachtas and Assembly also continue in other fora. I am aware, for example, that several Oireachtas Committees have had useful exchanges with their Assembly counterparts. In addition, the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly also provide valuable opportunities for parliamentarians North and South to engage on issues of mutual interest.