Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Taoiseach if he will convene a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in advance of the budget that will be introduced by the new British Government on 22 June 2010; if he will ensure that this meeting will discuss monetary and competitiveness issues on which the stability of this island's two economies rely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22709/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Taoiseach further to the communique that issued from the December 2009 plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, if the June or July 2010 meeting of that body will be held before the 22 of June 2010 when the new British Government will publish an emergency budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22810/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

Meetings of the North South Ministerial Council are scheduled in agreement with the Northern Ireland Executive.

I will meet with Sinn Féin and the SDLP this week and I expect to meet with Prime Minister Cameron shortly.

The next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council will take place on Monday, 5 July. At that meeting, as is the norm, we will discuss the economic situation, North and South. At the last Plenary meeting of the NSMC in Derry on 14 December, 2009 there was discussion on the scope for future mutually beneficial cooperation in dealing with the economic downturn. I would expect that we will have further discussion on this at the meeting on 5 July.

There are also a number of meetings of the North South Ministerial Council in sectoral format scheduled before 5 July including on Health and Food Safety, Tourism and Intertrade Ireland.

As I said during replies in the House last week, we seek at all times to work with our counterparts in the North to identify synergies and a more cost effective delivery of services North and South. That is a matter we continue to pursue at all levels and in all respects in a transparent, open and beneficial way for everyone we serve.