HL Deb 07 November 2002 vol 640 cc170-2WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When was the most recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in any format; whether issues relating to the Language Implementation Body was discussed; if so, what; how and when any decisions will be supplied to the co-chairmen of the body; and if decisions were taken in which expenditure is envisaged, what will be the source of funding. [HL6078]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

The most recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council was in the Special EU Programmes Sector on 9 October 2002.

At that meeting council considered a paper which related to the Language Sector concerning a project involving An Gúm and the Department of Education and Science. Council noted and agreed the project, the continuation of the recruitment process for two assistant editor posts for An Gúm and approved that the salary scale can attract future general round increases in the South as appropriate and with the approval of both Finance Ministers. The Department of Education and Science in the South is to provide all financial resources to carry out the work, including production, printing, publishing, design and employment costs.

The decisions reached by council were communicated to the joint chairperson of the Language Body on 22 October 2002.

Dates of NSMC Meetings Sector Date communiqués issued Topics discussed Issued to
Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o CEO The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch
21 June 2000 Language 31 August 2000 Ulstèr Scotch Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o CEO Foras na Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch and
5 December 2000 Language 14 December 2000 Ulstèr Scotch Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o Foras na Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch and
7 December 2001 Language 17 January 2002 Ulstèr Scotch Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o Foras na Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch and
14 June 2002 Language 5 July 2002 Ulstèr Scotch Provision of assistance to chairperson of Foras na Foras na Gaeilge Minister and officials in the Department of Enterprise
30 March 2001 Tourism 30 March 2001 Gaeilge Draft strategic plan—Foras na Gaeilge selection process salary range for CEO Foras Trade and Investment Minister and officials in the Department of Culture Arts
27 June 2001 Waterways Ireland 27 June 2001 na Gaeilge Appointment of CEO— and Leisure Minister and officials in the
23 November 2001 Waterways Ireland 23 November 2001 Foras na Gaeilge Appointment of CEO— and Leisure Chairperson of Foras na
25 January 2002 Agriculture 29 January 2002 Foras na Gaeilge Report on recruitment of staff at director level—Foras Chairperson of Foras na
15 April 2002 Agriculture 18 April 2002 na Gaeilge Appointment of new board Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch and
15 April 2002 Agriculture 18 April 2002 member—Foras na Gaeilge Project between An Gúm and Dept of Education and Foras na Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch and
9 October 2002 SEUP 22 October 2002 Science Foras na Gaeilge

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that the text of all documentation from the North/South Ministerial Council, as set up in the Belfast Agreement of 1998, refers to the two component parts as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. [HL6283]

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many joint communiqués concerning the language sector have been issued by the North/South Ministerial Council since its creation under the Belfast Agreement of 1998; on what date; what were the topics; and whether they were forwarded directly to the co-chairpersons of the language body. [HL6242]

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

Joint communiqués concerning the language sector were issued on 10 occasions, details of which are provided in the attached annex.

There have been four North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings in the language sector. In addition, on five occasions issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge were discussed at NSMC meetings in other sectors. Issues relating to The Boord o Ulstèr Scotch were discussed at one NSMC meeting, which was held on 9 October 2002.

The joint communiqués relating to meetings in the Language Sector have now been forwarded to the noble Lord and arrangements are in hand for the issue of joint communiqués from other meetings at which language issues were discussed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn:

The nomenclature used to refer to the parties to the Belfast Agreement is a matter for each administration.

Documentation from the North/South Ministerial Council is produced by agreement with administrations, North and South.