Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the commitments in the programme for Government on the North-South Ministerial Council; when it last met; and the particular areas of Brexit that were discussed. [25673/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to continue to advance North South cooperation, particularly through cross-border bodies and the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and to harness the potential of the Stormont House Agreement to develop new areas of cooperation in areas such as trade, health, tourism, sport and security.

In the current absence of a Northern Ireland Executive, and specifically a First and deputy First Minister, the North South Ministerial Council cannot meet.

The most recent NSMC Plenary meetings on 4 July 2016 in Dublin Castle and on 18 November 2016 in Armagh saw the Government and the Executive agree on a number of important common principles for dealing with Brexit on an all-island basis, scoping out the sectoral implications of Brexit for Ireland, North and South, and agreeing to work together to optimise North-South planning in the phases preceding and following Brexit.

It was agreed that this work would be taken forward through continuing bilateral discussions within the NSMC at sectoral level, as well as through a high-level working group comprising senior officials from the Government and from the Northern Ireland Executive Office.

Discussions on sectoral priorities and on new and expanded areas of cooperation have been taking place within the NSMC. While there is always scope for exploring the expansion of areas of cooperation and the work of the North South Bodies, in line with the Good Friday Agreement, such expansion must of course obtain the agreement of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

All the North South Bodies are continuing to operate effectively, making a considerable contribution towards economic growth right across the island and demonstrating what can be achieved when we pool our resources in key strategic areas. For instance, Tourism Ireland and InterTradeIreland are playing continuing and central roles in supporting the all island economy.

Tourism Ireland is driving record tourism numbers and spend to this island. InterTradeIreland is building vital exporting capacity among our small and medium enterprises and assisting SMEs in navigating the challenges of Brexit through its new advisory service and is carrying out important research into various trade scenarios.

We are already seeing greater cooperation in term of working on sporting events, such as the 2023 Rugby World Cup bid and both parts of the island are jointly hosting the Women’s tournament this year.

The Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital is now operational and is a flagship examplar of the benefits to citizens of North South cooperation. This jointly funded Unit is now providing access to Radiotherapy Services to over a half million people across the north west of the island. Paediatric cardiac care on the island is also benefitting from strong collaboration between the respective Health Departments, North and South.

The Government remains engaged with the political parties in Northern Ireland. I am hopeful that, after talks resume following the UK General Election on 8 June, a new Northern Ireland Executive can be put in place by 29 June and that North South Ministerial Council meetings will recommence at the earliest opportunity thereafter to enable further important engagement on progressing all-island cooperation in general and on addressing the challenges of Brexit.