Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Taoiseach the work carried out by him to progress Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement since he took office as An Taoiseach; his plans to progress Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement in the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement sets out arrangements for the establishment of the North South Ministerial Council to bring together those with executive responsibilities North and South to develop consultation, cooperation and action within the island of Ireland. The Council meets in different formats, in plenary format twice yearly, in sectoral format on a regular and frequent basis and in institutional format to consider institutional or cross sectoral matters.

There are six implementation bodies:Waterways Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board, Trade and Business Development Body (InterTradeIreland), The Language Body/An Foras Teanga/North-South Body (consisting of two agencies i.e. Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch) Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (consisting of two Agencies i.e. The Loughs Agency and Lights Agency). Each of the Bodies operates on an all-island basis. While having a clear operational remit, all operate under the overall policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council, with clear accountability lines back to the Council and to the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly. There are six areas of cooperation dealing with aspects of Agriculture, Education, Environment, Health, Tourism, including Tourism Ireland and Transport. In each case, common policies and approaches are agreed in the North South Ministerial Council but implemented separately in each jurisdiction.

The St Andrews Agreement provided for a Review of the North South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation. The Review is examining the efficiency and value for money of existing Implementation Bodies, the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC where mutual benefit would be derived, and providing input into the work on the identification of a suitable substitute for the proposed Lights Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. Progress under Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement is considered on a regular basis at Plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council. I have answered questions in this House on the outcome of the meetings in Derry on 23 January last and the most recent meeting on 6 July in Farmleigh House in Dublin.

At recent Plenary meetings we have had very useful discussions on the economic challenges facing all parts of this island and we have considered progress on North/South Co-operation in areas such as health, education, transport and tourism. In July we noted the following items:

our re-affirmed commitment to the A5 and A8 road projects in the North and agreement to make a contribution of €9m to these before the end of the year.

close co-operation on the Influenza A/H1N1 outbreak;

agreement on a framework for the removal of waste illegally dumped in Northern Ireland;

progress on introducing the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications;

intensified co-operation on Child Protection;

progress on suicide prevention;

continued co-operation in education on the approaches to the integration of newcomer children in schools;

the further development of the www.borderpeople.info website.

The Council also noted that the St Andrew's Review Group is continuing its consideration of the report of the experts/advisers on efficiency and value for money of the existing Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited. It confirmed its intention to conclude the St Andrews Review process before the end of 2009 and it instructed the Review Group to accelerate its work on all the elements of the Review and to provide a final report to the next meeting of the Plenary.

The Council also noted the Executive's ongoing review of the Civic Forum. Following the conclusion of the Government's consultations with social partners and other groups from civic society in 2008, the Government forwarded proposals for the establishment of the Forum to the Northern Executive. At the NSMC meeting, it was noted that the Government intends to hold a conference in Autumn 2009 involving social partners and other groups in civil society who have an interest in North/South co-operation. The Conference will take place on 15 October next.

The establishment of a North South Parliamentary Forum is, of course, a matter for the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly. At the NSMC plenary meeting we welcomed the establishment of two working groups, by the Oireachtas and the Northern Assembly respectively, to progress discussions on the establishment of a North South Parliamentary Forum. Progress will be reviewed at the next NSMC Plenary. In addition to the Plenary meetings there have been 26 sectoral meetings under the NSMC since May 2008 and one meeting in Institutional format which took place last April. The next NSMC plenary meeting will take place before the end of the year and I look forward to making further progress on the North/South agenda.