Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Good Friday Agreement

12:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 579: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the work he has carried out to progress strand two of the Good Friday Agreement since his appointment; his plans for progression of strand two of the agreement in the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29341/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The North South Ministerial Council has been particularly active in the period since my appointment as Minster for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. There have been two successful Plenary meetings of the Council already this year: in January in Derry and most recently at Farmleigh on 6 July.

The meeting in Farmleigh was our fourth NSMC Plenary meeting since restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly in May 2007. During this period there have been some 38 Ministerial meetings covering a broad range of sectors. These have facilitated joint initiatives in areas such as transport, health, agriculture and the environment, while also overseeing the work of North/South Bodies such as Tourism Ireland and InterTrade Ireland.

At both Plenary meetings this year we reviewed our common economic challenges and the contribution which enhanced North South cooperation can make to promoting growth and employment. In Farmleigh this week we noted progress on important infrastructural projects such as the A5 road to Derry and Letterkenny, and underlined the continuing close cooperation between the Government and the Executive on this and related projects. Other recent examples of effective cross-border cooperation include the response to the A/HINI outbreak; the agreement on the removal of illegally dumped waste; and the delivery of high-speed international broadband connectivity for the North-West through Project Kelvin.

I hosted First Minister Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at the fourth NSMC Institutional meeting in April this year. We had a broad discussion of the budgetary challenges facing the two jurisdictions and reviewed progress in overcoming obstacles to cross border mobility in areas such as banking and pensions. We also discussed how our two administrations might strengthen cooperation on EU issues.

I intend that in the year ahead we will continue building on the progress already achieved in North South cooperation. Conscious of the need to secure maximum efficiency, there will be increased emphasis on the potential for economies of scale and more effective cross-border public services, particularly in health and education. We will also prioritise progress on agreed infrastructure projects, including the roads to the North-West and along the Eastern seaboard, the Project Kelvin broadband project to serve Monaghan and the North West, the development of City of Derry airport and the restoration of the Ulster Canal. We also look forward to increased all-island spatial planning and cross-border cooperation through the North-West Gateway Initiative, the Newry-Dundalk Twin-City Initiative and other regional initiatives in border areas.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.