International Fund for Ireland (Hansard, 14 March 1988)

§ Mr. Jim Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances the International Fund for Ireland seeks guidance from his Department on decisions relating to the disbursement of funds; and on how many occasions this occurred in 1987.
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§ Mr. Viggers
The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to the disbursement of funds are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman. Article 3 of the agreement establishing the fund provides thatdisbursements shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments To assist in its work, the board has an advisory committee, comprised of senior civil servants of the two Governments, which meets regularly. In addition, the board has delegated to specialist agencies, including some Government Departments, responsibility for the ad-ministration of its various programmes within criteria and operating arrangements specified by the board. The activities of administering agencies in respect of their responsibilities for fund programmes are closely monitored by the board

§ Mr. Jim Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the economic and social policies and priorities that guide decisions on disbursements from the International Fund for Ireland.

§ Mr. Viggers
The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to the disbursements of funds are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman. However, article 3 of the Agreement to establish the International Fund for Ireland provides thatThe need to maximise the economic and social benefits of the Fund in Ireland shall be an overriding consideration in making disbursements from its resources and these disbursements shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments".

§ Mr. Jim Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table all those projects in Northern Ireland in receipt of funds from the International Fund for Ireland.

§ Mr. Viggers
The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to projects in rejects of funds from the International Fund for Ireland are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman.

§ Mr. Jim Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decision by the International Fund for Ireland to refuse support to Conway Community Development Enterprise Ltd., and the criteria used to reach this decision.

§ Mr. Viggers
Article 3 of the agreement to establish the International Fund for Ireland provides that disbursements from the fundshall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments".
The United Kingdom Government have advised the board of the International Fund for Ireland that provision of support to Conway Community Development Enterprise Ltd. in respect of activities at the Conway street mill is not consistent with the Government's economic and social policies and priorities.