§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals have been put forward by the Irish Government in accordance with article 2(b) of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
§ Mr. Tom KingArticle 2(b) states the general principle that the Irish Government may put forward views and proposals on matters relating to Northern Ireland within the field of activity of the Intergovernmental Conference in so far as those matters are not the responsibility of a devolved administration in Northern Ireland. Any views or proposals put at the meetings of the conference therefore fall within the terms of this article. The joint statements, issued after each of the three meetings of the conference, set out the matters that were raised. Copies have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which are the matters referred to in article 4(a) of the Anglo-Irish agreement which it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government should be devolved within Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe matters referred to in article 4(a) of the agreement are those listed in article 2. The powers immediately available for devolution to a Northern Ireland administration are those which are classified as "transferred" by the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. Essentially, they comprise economic and social matters administered by the Northern Ireland Departments.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals have been put forward by the Irish Government in accordance with article 4(c) of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
§ Mr. Tom KingNone.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what views and proposals have been put forward by the Irish Government in accordance with article 5(c) of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
§ Mr. Tom KingArticle 5(c) provides that if it should prove impossible to achieve and sustain devolution on a basis which secures widespread acceptance in Northern Ireland, the conference shall be a framework within which the Irish Government may, where the interests of the minority community are significantly or especially affected, put forward views on proposals for major legislation and on major policy issues, which are within the purview of the Northern Ireland Departments and which remain the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. As the joint statements record, no views on proposals have yet been put forward in accordance with this article in the conference.
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§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what views and proposals have been put forward by the Irish Government in accordance with article 6 of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe Irish Government have offered views on the consultative paper published in 1985 on the police complaints procedure in Northern Ireland, including the role of the Police Complaints Board. We undertook to consider these together with the views of the other respondents to the consultative paper before decisions were made. While I can confirm that the Irish Government have as yet made no proposals in connection with the composition of the bodies, referred to in article 6, matters relating to the appointments of particular individuals will be treated in confidence.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what programme of special measures in Northern Ireland has been agreed in accordance with article 7(c) of the Anglo-Irish agreement.
§ Mr. Tom KingAt its meeting on 11 December 1985 the Intergovernmental Conference discussed the development of a programme of measures to improve relations between the security forces and the minority community in Northern Ireland. It was informed by the Chief Constable of measures already instituted to improve relations between the security forces and the minority community. It was also informed of the various steps currently under consideration by the Chief Constable. It was recognised that the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the armed forces must not only discharge their duties evenhandedly and with equal respect for the unionist and nationalist identities and traditions, but be seen by both communities to be doing so. A joint statement on the meeting of 11 December has been placed in the Library.