HC Deb 21 July 1999 vol 335 cc530-1W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials at each meeting. [90410]

Mr. Paul Murphy

I have met Irish Ministers very frequently throughout the Talks Process. Other meetings held by Northern Ireland Office Ministers since 1 January 1999 were:

Mr. Ingram

Copies of the 1998–99 Inspection Report, which is the fourteenth RUC Inspection Report to be published, have today been placed in the Library.

Her Majesty's Inspector's overall remit is to examine police operational efficiency and effectiveness and offer his independent and professional recommendations. I am sure the Independent Commission on Policing will be interested to note the recommendations and I am extremely pleased to see that Her Majesty's Inspector is optimistic about the future of policing in Northern Ireland, as indeed I am myself.

This report covers a number of areas relating to matters such as RUC planning strategies, consultation arrangements, performance management, and community relations. The Chief Constable will now consider these issues and in due course the Police Authority will publish any comments either the Chief Constable or the Authority may have.