Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the review of the North-South bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37352/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The first part of the St Andrew’s Agreement Review is now largely completed. This involved examining the Bodies in terms of efficiency and value for money.

Part two of the Review involved expanding the areas of North South cooperation and, in line with the decision at the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Plenary meeting in November 2013, Ministers North and South have been working together at the sectoral meetings since then to identify and develop sectoral priorities for further cooperation in their respective sectoral areas.

The Government remains of the view that the important work being undertaken by the North South Bodies should be significantly developed. This is in line with our shared aims of supporting economic recovery, encouraging job creation, ensuring the best use of public funds and the most effective delivery of services for citizens across the island. The Government looks forward to a substantive discussion of these issues at the upcoming NSMC Plenary meeting.