§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (WA 119–121) concerning the appointment of a chief executive for the Irish 66WA Language Agency, whether they believe that ratification of the appointment was to be by the total Language Implementation Body, as required by paragraph 2.10 of part 5 of the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8 March 1999 (Cm 4706); whether they received legal opinions on this issue; and whether they will place any opinions which they or the Government of the Irish Republic authorities received in the Library of the House. [HL60]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)It is the Government's understanding of the Implementation Bodies Agreement that the functions of the North/South Language Body in relation to the Irish language and Ullans and Ulster-Scots are exercised by the respective agencies of the body. The agreement also provides that the respective members of the board relating to the two languages have responsibility for the exercise of the functions of the body through the relevant agency. This means that the appointment of the chief executive of the Irish Language Agency was properly made by that part of the board having responsibility for that agency, and the same arrangements apply to the appointment of a chief executive for the Ulster-Scots Agency. The present Government have not received any legal opinion on this matter or had sight of any opinion which the authorities in the Republic of Ireland may have received.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (WA 119–120) concerning the appointment of a chief executive for the Irish Language Agency, for which the procedure was approved on 27 June 2001, at a meeting in Waterways Sector format of the North/South Ministerial Council, why this decision is not recorded in the joint communiqué which contains all decisions issued after the meeting; and what other decisions concerning the Language Sector have not been recorded in the joint communiqués. [HL86]
§ Lord Williams of MostynJoint communiqués do not necessarily communicate the full range of issues discussed at each meeting. That is the function of the formal record of decisions.
In addition to the issue referred to by the noble Lord, two other matters relating to the Language Body were not recorded in joint communiqués issued following NSMC meetings held on 30 March 2001 and 27 June 2001. These decisions, as recorded in the record of decisions, were communicated to the noble Lord on 6 November 2002 in a letter from the joint secretaries.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (WA 120–121) which indicated that the business plan for the Irish language body 67WA had been approved on 14 June, why a document from the North/South Ministerial Council entitled Official Facilitation Meeting for the NS Language Body dated 25 October stated that the business plan for the Irish Language Agency "will need the approval of the NSMC"; and whether the plan has been approved or not. [HL197]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe business plan referred to at the officials facilitation meeting relates to year 2003. This plan has not yet been approved.
The business plan for the Irish Language Agency approved at a meeting of the NSMC Language Sector held on 14 June related to the year 2002.