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Northern Ireland Assembly NORTHERN IRELAND MINISTERIAL Statement ASSEMBLY North/South Ministerial Council Plenary Format Tuesday 17 February 2009 Mr Speaker: I have received notice from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister that the deputy First Minister wishes to make a statement on The Assembly met at 10.30 am (Mr Speaker in the the North/South Ministerial Council in plenary format. Chair). The deputy First Minister (Mr M McGuinness): Members observed two minutes’ silence. Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. In compliance with section 52C(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we wish to make the following statement on the seventh meeting of the North/South Assembly BUSINESS Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format, which was held at the University of Ulster at Magee on Mr Speaker: Mr Barry McElduff has sought leave Friday 23 January 2009. to make a personal statement in relation to a report by All Executive Ministers who attended the meeting the Committee on Standards and Privileges on a have approved this report that we make on their behalf. complaint by Mr Thomas Buchanan. The Executive delegation was led by the First Minister Mr McElduff: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann and me, and we jointly chaired the meeting. Comhairle. Members will know that I am strongly In addition to the First Minister, junior Ministers opposed to the imposition of British symbols and Donaldson and Kelly and myself, our delegation emblems in this or any other part of Ireland. Tá a fhios comprised the Minister of Agriculture and Rural ag Comhaltaí an Tionóil an méid seo. However, if a Development, the Minister of Culture, Arts and handful of words that I used in August 2008 broke the Leisure, the Minister of Education, the Minister of public duty for Members, as set out in the code of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Minister for conduct for Members, which now appears to be the Regional Development, and the Minister for Social case, then, of course, I want to apologise for that. Go Development. raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD, led the Irish Government delegation, which comprised Mary Coughlan TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for Finance; Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health and Children; Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport; Michéal Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism; Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Social and Family Affairs; Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and Batt O’Keefe TD, Minister for Education and Science. The meeting was held in the University of Ulster at Magee, and the vice chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett, and the pro vice chancellor and provost of Magee, Professor Jim Allen, along with their staff and student representatives, afforded us an excellent welcome and provided highly professional arrangements, facilities and hospitality. The Mayor of Derry also formally met the delegations. During the meeting, we had a broad discussion with the Taoiseach and Irish Government Ministers about 57 Ministerial Statement: Tuesday 17 February 2009 North/South Ministerial Council: Plenary Format the common economic challenges that we face, Waterways Ireland headquarters in Enniskillen, which including the need for continuing practical and was completed on schedule and within budget. mutually beneficial North/South co-operation to assist It welcomed the progress that has been made in in our efforts to deal with the economic downturn. addressing educational underachievement, co-operation We outlined the steps that we are taking here in the on Traveller education, and special education, package of measures that we have put in place, including including the services that the Middletown Centre for the fuel credit fund. We highlighted the problem of Autism provides. Progress on a draft all-island animal access to credit from the banks and the increased health and welfare strategy was also welcomed. incidence of loan-sharking and illegal moneylending Ministers noted the work on the transfer of pensions — particularly in disadvantaged areas. We outlined our on a cross-border basis and on cross-border banking efforts to press local banks to improve the flow of issues, including the publication of information on the credit to business. cost of personal cross-border banking transactions on The Taoiseach outlined the steps that the Irish the mobility website, all of which are of direct relevance Government are taking, particularly on infrastructure, to greater cross-border mobility. They also noted the innovation and with the main Irish banks. The Irish success, to date, of the cross-border mobility website. Government’s Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, The Council welcomed progress to date by the outlined the specific problems relating to the Irish group undertaking the St Andrews Agreement review. banking sector. He agreed to pass on to the six main It noted that the experts/advisers have completed their Irish banks our concerns about access to credit here. report on efficiency and value for money of the We also discussed the recent animal feed existing implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland contamination incident that had a serious impact on Ltd. The Council requested that the review group, in farmers and food processors in both jurisdictions. We consultation with the relevant sponsor Departments outlined the serious impact that this matter has caused, and Ministers, should consider the recommendations and pressed for an all-Ireland approach to resolving the made by the experts/advisers and submit a report to the difficulties. The Council noted the concerns that we next plenary meeting. The Council requested that the raised on the matter and noted that the relevant review group should complete work on its remaining Ministers have been engaged in intensive discussions terms of reference and submit proposals to a meeting about direct and indirect assistance. The Council of the North/South Ministerial Council in plenary requested that those Ministers continue to treat that as format before the end of 2009. a matter of urgency. The Council considered a paper on a North/South The Council received a progress report prepared by consultative forum. It noted the Irish Government’s the NSMC joint secretaries on the 14 NSMC ministerial proposal on the role, format, membership and meetings that have been held since the previous operation of a North/South consultative forum, and plenary in February 2008. The Council welcomed the also noted the progress that has been made in mutually beneficial co-operation taken forward at reviewing the Civic Forum here. It agreed to consider those meetings. the matter once that review is complete. The Council welcomed the good progress on the A5 Ministers also considered a paper on a North/South north-west gateway to Aughnacloy and the A8 Belfast parliamentary forum. They noted the ongoing to Larne projects and the fact that the first key discussions between the Houses of the Oireachtas and milestones were achieved ahead of target in autumn this Assembly, and the agreement to establish two 2008. It noted that Ministers have agreed to intensify working groups to develop proposals for such a body. work on the bilateral agreement on the EU Convention The Council agreed to keep that matter under review. on Driving Disqualifications and the mutual recognition The Council also considered a paper on future of penalty points. NSMC meetings. It approved a schedule of NSMC The Council noted the involvement of Ministers in meetings to take place over the coming months and the successful launch of the Peace III and INTERREG agreed that its next meeting in plenary format will be IVa programmes. The Council also noted the hosted by the Irish Government in June 2009. Go raibh intensification of co-operation on child protection, maith agat. including a cross-border awareness campaign. Mr Shannon: I thank the Minister for his statement. Ministers noted the development of a 10-point all- He covered a vast number of issues. I have a lot of island action plan on suicide prevention. questions, but I know that we are restricted in the The Council noted the progress that has been made number that we are allowed to ask. on the removal of waste that has been illegally My first question is about child protection. dumped. It also noted the official opening of the new Obviously, it is an issue in which all of us in this 58 Ministerial Statement: Tuesday 17 February 2009 North/South Ministerial Council: Plenary Format Chamber are particularly interested. Will the Minister of media — that deals with such issues as the reporting enlighten us with more detail about what co-operation of abuse, safe parenting and good-employment practice. on a cross-border child-protection campaign will We also noted that the two Departments wish to mean? Will it mean that predators and those who seek examine current procedures for sharing information and out young children will be monitored and that young to evaluate whether we can improve those, especially children will be protected? That is a major issue. in relation to children who are thought to be at risk and The deputy First Minister also referred to the at-risk families who move between the two jurisdictions. Middletown Centre for Autism. I know that he is aware That work will also consider how best to take account that those in the Province who have autistic children of the movement of vulnerable families and children have great need of such a centre. Will he clarify around Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. whether the facilities and services in Middletown will 10.45 am be available to the entire Province, rather than just to that particular area? Will any help be provided to those The Middletown Centre for Autism is intended as a who wish to avail themselves of those facilities? facility for the entire island, not just for people with children with autism in the immediate vicinity.
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