Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of North-South Bodies in operation; the number and names of board members on each body; the remuneration received by each member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12327/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are seven North/ Bodies in operation - Waterways Ireland, InterTradeIreland, the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency), the Special EU Programmes Body, the North/South Language Body (which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency), the Food Safety Promotion Board and Tourism Ireland Ltd.

The North/South Bodies are a significant part of the architecture of the Good Friday Agreement and they deliver important public services for the island across a range of sectors. Their work includes tourism marketing, the management of the island's canal networks, food safety promotion, the development of the Foyle and Carlingford Loughs, promotion of the Irish language and Ulster Scots, management of cross border EU funds and promotion of North/South trade and business.

The British-Irish Agreement of 1999 provides for the structure of the North/South Implementation Bodies. The legislative framework further provides that board members of the Bodies be appointed by the North South Ministerial Council and that the Council should also determine the remuneration of board members with the approval of the Finance Ministers in both jurisdictions. At a meeting of the Council in Institutional Format on 11 November 2009, it was agreed to reduce the fees payable to board members of the North/South Bodies. The fees now applicable to board members of the North/South Bodies are as follows:

Chairperson €12,600 per annum

Vice-chairperson €10,350 per annum

Member €8,100 per annum.

The current board members of the North/South Bodies are as follows:

Food Safety Promotion Board (Advisory Board) John Dardis (Chairperson) Campbell Tweedie (Vice Chairperson) Ken Baird Lynn Ní Bhaoigheallain Joe Byrne Brian Cunningham Aoife Healy Susan Heraghty Neven Maguire Seamus Sheridan Con Traas Jane Wells

North South Language Body Foras Na Gaeilge Liam Ó Maoilmhichíl (Chairperson of Foras na Gaeilge/ Joint Chairperson of An Foras Teanga) Eoghan Mac Cormaic (Vice Chair) Áine Andrews Lucilita Breathnach Seanna Breathnach Adelaide Nic Cárthaigh Peter Gallagher Máiréad Nic Giolla Mhichíl Liam Kennedy Norman Henry Éamonn Kinch Marcas Mac Ruairi Dónal Ó Bearra Pádhraic Ó Biadha Diarmuid Ó Murchú Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín

Tha Boord O Ulstèr Scotch (Ulster Scots Agency) John Hunter (Chairperson of Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch/ Joint Chairperson of North South Language Body) Ian Adamson Tony Crooks Angela Graham William Humphrey William Leathem Jacqui Reed

The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) Tarlach O Crosain (Chairperson) Jacqui McConville (Vice Chairperson) Enda Bonner Brendan Byrne John Byrne Denis Haughey Alan McCulla Joe Miller John Mulcahy Winston Patterson Thomas Sloan Jim Wilson

The Trade and Business Development Body (InterTradeIreland) David Dobbin (Chairperson) John Fitzgerald (Vice Chairperson) Brendan Butler Ray Doherty Vincent Parker Sean Gallagher Jack Gilmour Hugh Logue Padraig MacLochlainn Patricia McKeown Dr Gerard O'Hare Tom Scott

Tourism Ireland Limited Hugh Friel (Chairperson) Ciara Boyle (Vice-Chairperson) Brian Ambrose David Lyle Robert Manson Mandy Martin Bill McGinnis Howard Hastings Moira McNamara John Power Shaun Quinn Ann Riordan.

The Agreement did not provide for boards for Waterways Ireland and the Special EU Programmes Body.