§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 19 January (WA 101), whether the Belfast agreement, signed on 10 April 1998, provided for practical co-operation in education between Northern Ireland and Eire; and, if so, how it so provided. [HL1353]
§ Baroness AmosParagraphs 8 and 9(i) of Strand Two of the agreement set the framework for discussions which led to the North/South Ministerial Council identifying education as a matter for co-operation and implementation where existing bodies would be the appropriate mechanism for co-operation in each separate jurisdiction. Within this matter a range of issues were identified for initial consideration by NSMC and others were subsequently included, by agreement of both sides, at education sectoral meetings of NSMC.
Joint working groups of the two education departments are taking forward work on the education issues identified.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Since the entry into force on 2 December 1999 of the North/South Ministerial Council agreement, whether the Department of Education in Northern Ireland has had dealings with the education department in Eire which have not been reported to the council. [HL1355]
225WA
§ Baroness AmosThere is nothing in the North/South Ministerial Agreement made between the British and Irish Governments which requires the Department of Education to report all its dealings with the Irish Department of Education and Science to the council.