Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent meetings he has had on North-South relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46818/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The formal framework for discussion of North/South issues with the Northern Ireland Executive is the North South Ministerial Council, established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. Together with the Taoiseach and a number of Cabinet colleagues, I most recently attended a plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Limavady on 14 December 2009. The Northern Ireland Executive delegation was led by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister. This was the ninth plenary meeting of the NSMC since its establishment and came almost ten years to the day since the inaugural meeting of the Council in 1999.

We had a good discussion on the common economic challenges facing both jurisdictions, which was particularly important and timely in the aftermath of the Budget published here last week and the publication of the U.K. pre-Budget outlook on the same day. We also considered how we might save money by working more closely together. We also reviewed progress made across all the areas of co-operation in the Council since the previous plenary meeting, including in the areas of transport, health, education, environment and agriculture. A total of fourteen sectoral meetings of the NSMC had taken place in these areas since the previous plenary meeting in July. Important issues discussed at these sectoral meetings included the re-opening of the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise train service, co-operation on planning and preparedness for dealing with swine flu on the island and progress in co-operation on child protection.

The North South Ministerial Council plenary meeting also reviewed progress on a number of institutional issues including the North/South Consultative Forum, the North/South Parliamentary Forum and the Review of North/South Bodies and Areas of Co-Operation arising from the St. Andrews Agreement. A schedule of further Council meetings was agreed for the first half of 2010.

I myself met First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, together with their Northern Ireland Executive colleagues, Margaret Ritchie and Robin Newton, for a North/South Ministerial Council meeting in the Institutional Format on 11 November in Belfast. This is the format of the NSMC which looks at cross-cutting and institutional issues, including in relation to the EU. On that occasion, we had a good discussion on the potential contribution cross-border co-operation can make in providing more effective and efficient services North and South. We also had an interesting exchange of views on EU issues of mutual interest, looking at areas where we might work together to advance our shared interests in Europe. In the context of looking at the remaining obstacles to cross-border mobility, we welcomed a plan to inform teachers about recent changes in pension arrangements for those looking to work in the other jurisdiction. With regard to the North/South Bodies, we considered the implementation of efficiency savings for 2009/2010 and I used the opportunity to reiterate the Government's strong support for the Bodies as they continue to carry out their mandate and play a valuable role in the economic recovery of the island.