§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, and if so when, the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission will acquire responsibility for all lighthouses around Ireland. as agreed in the Belfast Agreement in March 1998; and what has been the cause of the delay in implementation of this part of the agreement. [HL6348]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The North/South Ministerial Council at its last plenary meeting on 28 June 2002 considered the provisions of the agreement that established the North/South bodies for the transfer of functions carried out by the Irish Lights Commissioners to Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. Recognising the complex issues surrounding such a transfer, the council asked relevant Ministers and departments, North and South, to examine urgently the alternative possibilities and make proposals to the council.