Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Taoiseach the progress arising from the commitment to an intensive programme of work made in the implementation of the Joint Statement by the Irish and British Governments, which was published on 12 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22299/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Taoiseach the progress made since the publication in June 2013 of the Joint British-Irish Economic Study, arising out of the March 2012 Joint Statement by the Irish and British Governments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22302/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings that have been held between the Secretary General of his Department and the Cabinet Secretary to take forward the work of the Joint Statement by the Irish and British Governments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22305/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings that have been held involving the Secretary General of his Department and the Cabinet Secretary with the relevant lead Departments, as committed to in the March 2012 Joint Statement by the Irish and British Governments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22306/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Taoiseach the progress made using the North-South bodies, the British-Irish Council standing secretariat and private sector networks, as committed to in the Joint Statement by the Irish and British Governments in March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22308/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Taoiseach the number of summits held between him and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, as committed to under the Irish-British Joint Statement of March 2012; if he will publish reviews that were carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22309/15]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 to 152, inclusive, together.

In March 2012, Prime Minister Cameron and I agreed a Joint Statement setting out a ten year vision for ever closer bilateral cooperation between Ireland and Britain.

The Joint Statement also sets out arrangements for Secretaries General and Permanent Secretaries to work together. There have been three annual plenary meetings of this Group since 2012 in addition to sectoral bilateral meetings. The next plenary meeting is due to take place in September.

These meetings provide a platform to continuously assess progress, map out future work programmes, and look ahead to the next Annual British-Irish Summit.

The Prime Minister and I remain committed to meeting at these annual summits to review and oversee progress in the joint work. Three such annual reviews have taken place to date and the next Summit will take place in London on 18 June.

One of the key outputs from the Joint Statement was the publication in July 2013 of the Joint (British Irish) Economic Study Report which highlights areas for further joint action and has fed into the work programme of the Secretaries General and Permanent Secretaries Group.

There have been significant developments on progressing recommendations outlined in the Joint Economic Study. Examples include further collaboration in R&D to maximise access to Horizon 2020 funding; collaboration to unblock barriers to trade in agri-food products, sharing of best practice on CAP implementation and the successful completion of a joint trade mission, including Ministerial representation from Northern Ireland, to the Singapore Air Show and Exhibition in February 2014.

Through the framework of the Secretaries General/Permanent Secretaries work programme, there have been other significant achievements, including the joint visit to the war graves in Flanders to honour Irish and British soldiers who died in the First World War, and the roll out of common travel area visa arrangements in 2014.

Cooperation on EU and wider international issues is a significant feature of the Joint Statement.

Bilateral meetings at Secretary General/Permanent Secretary level have also taken place between the Irish and Northern Irish Administrations. The March 2012 Joint Statement also commits the two Governments to continue to work in close co-operation on Northern Ireland issues. There is very close and ongoing engagement between the relevant administrations in relation to these matters, as evidenced in the recent talks leading to the Stormont House Agreement. There are ongoing official bilateral links with Northern Ireland in addition to engagement on the areas of North/South Co-operation that are progressed through the North South Ministerial Council.

The review of the work of the British Irish Council will also examine the scope for better synergies between its work and that of the Secretaries General-Permanent Secretaries Group.