Cross-Border Implementation Bodies

HL Deb 22 April 2004 vol 660 cc55-6WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the implications for the cross-border implementation bodies of the Republic of Ireland's Official Languages Act 2003. [HL2133]

Baroness Amos

The Government understand that the implementation bodies are included in the list of bodies to which the Official Languages Act applies. The implementation bodies are bound by the domestic law of the jurisdiction in which their operations take place.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a cross-border implementation body may relocate its headquarters without approval from a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council. [HL2209]

Baroness Amos

Approval from the North/South Ministerial Council would be required to relocate the headquarters of a North/South implementation body.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How and when the locations of the headquarters of the cross-border implementation bodies were decided; and whether the North/South Ministerial Council was consulted. [HL2208]

Baroness Amos

The decision on the location of headquarters of the North/South bodies was agreed at the inaugural Plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council held on 13 December 1999.