§ 13. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the next meeting at ministerial level with the Republic of Ireland will take place.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThere are no firm plans for any meetings at this moment, but meetings will continue to take place as and when appropriate between myself and my colleagues and Ministers from the Republic, as in the case of my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State's meeting with the Republic's Minister of Fisheries and Forestry last week in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. FlanneryAlthough the first meeting with leading Ministers in the Republic caused a great flush of hope among the vast majority of people that a new initiative to solve the intractable problem was under way, does the Minister accept that it is necessary for everyone to know a great deal more about what is happening? Next time that there is a meeting, even though we are at a transitional stage, will he ask the Prime Minister to give us a full report on which we can question her?
§ Mr. AtkinsI am glad that the hon. Gentleman is pleased about such meetings. They will continue. His second question does not relate to the main question, which concerns meetings between Ministers from the Republic and Northern Ireland Ministers. I am happy to tell the hon. Gentleman what happens at such meetings. At the meeting between my noble Friend and the Republic's Minister of Fisheries and Forestry they discussed fish.