Northern Ireland: Appointments

HL Deb 30 November 2000 vol 619 cc161-2WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which appointments affecting Northern Ireland they have made since 1 January 1997 on which they consulted the Government of the Republic of Ireland. [HL4726]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Under Article 6 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Irish Government had the right to nominate people for consideration for public appointments in Northern Ireland. However, such nominations were treated on exactly the same basis as nominations from other sources, with appointments made on the basis of merit. The British-Irish Agreement which took effect on 2 December 1999 replaced the Anglo-Irish Agreement and with it the Irish Government's right to be consulted about public appointments.