Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he last met the Chairman or Chief Executive of the North South Bodies InterTradeIreland, Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Body, Foras na Gaeilge, Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39110/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I do not have direct responsibility for any of the North South Implementation Bodies established under the British Irish Agreement. However, the Ministers who exercise that direct responsibility, together with the corresponding Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, meet with the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of the Bodies at meetings in sectoral format of the North South Ministerial Council which are held on a regular basis. In this jurisdiction the responsibility for the Bodies is exercised by five government departments: the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Waterways Ireland and the North/South Language Body which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency), the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (InterTrade Ireland), the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission - Loughs Agency); the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (the Special EU Programmes Body); and the Department of Health (the Food Safety Promotion Board). In addition, Tourism Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to extend the remit of the North/South implementation bodies; the consideration he has given to widening the number of areas of cross border cooperation and the consultation he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive in this regard. [39111/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The three terms of reference of the review of the existing North South bodies and of North South co-operation generally which is being undertaken in accordance with the St Andrews Agreement, are to examine the existing bodies in terms of efficiency and value for money, to look at the case for additional North South bodies and areas of co-operation and at a replacement for the Irish Lights Agency.The review was a subject of discussion at the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format which was held in Dublin Castle on 5 July 2013 and which was attended by members of the Government and of the Northern Ireland Executive including the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. It was noted that Term of Reference One of the Review is now largely complete; that senior officials from both administrations have met and initiated a work programme to take forward Terms of Reference Two and Three; including expanding on the areas of North South cooperation, and that they will conclude their work and present a report with proposals to the next NSMC Institutional meeting.