North/South Bodies
Each of the six North/South Bodies, operates on an all-island basis. While having a clear operational remit, all operate under the overall policy direction of the North/South Ministerial Council, with clear accountability lines back to the Council and to the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly. As provided for in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the Bodies were formally established by means of a supplementary International Agreement between the British and Irish Governments signed on 8 March, 1999. This Agreement was given domestic effect, North and South, by means of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order, 1999, and the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, respectively.
The Bodies and a summary of their main functions are set out as follows:
- Waterways Ireland: Responsibility for specified navigable inland waterways on the island, chiefly recreational.
- Food Safety Promotion Board: The promotion of food safety awareness on an all-island basis.
- Trade and Business Development Body (InterTradeIreland): The promotion of trade and business on an all-island and cross-border basis.
- Special European Union Programmes Body: The SEUPB has significant managerial and oversight functions in relation to various EU programmes and the Common Chapter in the National Development Plan for Ireland and the Northern Ireland Structural Funds Plan.
- The Language Body/An Foras Teanga/North-South Body o Leid (consisting of two agencies i.e. Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch): Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the Irish Language and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch for promoting a greater awareness and use of Ullans and of Ulster-Scots culture.
- Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (consisting of two Agencies i.e. The Loughs Agency and Lights Agency): The Loughs Agency is responsible for the management and development of the Foyle estuary and Carlingford Lough. It was intended that the Lights Agency, when established, would replace the Commissioners of Irish Lights as the General Lighthouse Authority for Ireland. However, given the complexities that have arisen in terms of pursuing such a transfer of functions, the matter is under review at present.
Funding and Staffing of North/South Bodies
The North/South Bodies are funded by the two Administrations, North and South. They are staffed by a combination of civil servants (either transferred or seconded from their parent Departments, North and South) and directly recruited staff. Many of the civil servants who were initially seconded to the Bodies have now been permanently transferred to them. When fully operational, approximately 602 people will be employed by the Bodies.
Structure of the North/South Bodies
The functions of three of the Bodies, InterTradeIreland, the North/South Language Body and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, are exercised by Boards appointed by the NSMC. The Food Safety Promotion Board has an advisory Board, also appointed by the NSMC, and the functions of the Body are exercised by the Chief Executive. The remaining two Bodies, Waterways Ireland and the Special European Union Programmes Body, do not have Boards, and the functions of the Body are exercised by the Chief Executive.