Inaugural Plenary Meeting - Armagh, 13 December 1999 Inaugural Plenary Meeting
1. The inaugural plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council was held in Armagh on 13 December 1999.
 | Photo: pictured from left to right - Deputy First Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, MP MLA; First Minister, The Rt. Hon. David Trimble, MP MLA; and the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD. |
2. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee delegation was led by the Rt Hon David Trimble MP MLA, First Minister and Mr Seamus Mallon MP, MLA, Deputy First Minister, who acted as Joint Chairmen for the meeting. The Irish Government delegation was led by the Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern TD. A full list of the members of both delegations is set out below.
3. Both sides in the Council acknowledged the importance of the occasion as a significant further step in the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They looked forward to the role that the Council could play in developing consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland - including through implementation on an all-island and cross-border basis - on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the Administrations, North and South. They agreed that there was very real potential for mutual benefit in many sectors and they looked forward to realising that potential in the Council in the period ahead.
4. Both sides also agreed, recalling the commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to the principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships between North and South, that the Council should play a central role in promoting reconciliation within, and in ensuring a better future for all the people on, the Island. They noted that the meeting was taking place at the start of a week which would see further significant developments, with inaugural summit meetings of the British Irish Council and the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference scheduled to take place in London on 17 December.
Memorandum of Procedure
5. The Council agreed a Memorandum of Procedure, which sets out procedural arrangements relating to the proceedings and operation of the Council.
North/South Implementation Bodies
6. The Council agreed on the locations of the headquarters and other offices of the six Implementation Bodies and of the Tourism company, when established. These are set out in the attached Annex A.
7. The Council also made appointments of members of the Management Boards of the Trade and Business Development Body, the North/South Language Body, the , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and the Advisory Board to the Food Safety Body. The names of the members are set out in Annex B.
Areas for Co-operation
8. The Council agreed an outline programme of work in regard to the areas for co-operation identified in the 18 December 1998 statement, as a basis for follow-up in the appropriate sectoral formats.
9. The Council also agreed that the relevant proposals in the outline programme of work should be tabled at the first meetings of the Council in each appropriate sectoral format.
Future Work Arrangements, Programme and Meetings of the Council
10. The Council considered its approach to future work arrangements, programme and meetings. It agreed that the Council would meet in sectoral format to consider issues relating to:
Implementation Bodies
- Waterways Ireland
- Food Safety Promotion Board
- Special EU Programmes
- North/South Language Body
- Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission
- Trade and Business Development Body
Matters for Co-operation
- Transport
- Agriculture
- Education
- Health
- Environment
- Tourism
13. In view of the need urgently to take forward certain matters in relation to the Implementation Bodies, and Areas for Co-operation, the Council agreed that particular priority be given to meetings of the Council relevant to those issues and that these would take place at the earliest possible date. It agreed also that the question of additional sectoral formats will be agreed by the Council meeting in Institutional format.
14. The Council recorded its gratitude to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Armagh and to Armagh District Council for the excellent arrangements which had been made for the holding of the meeting. It agreed that its next meeting in plenary form will take place in Dublin during June 2000.
Annex A
Ministers attending meeting of North South Ministerial Council
Armagh 13 December 1999
| Irish Government | Northern Ireland Executive Committee |
|---|---|
| Bertie Ahern TD (Taoiseach) |
Rt Hon David Trimble MP MLA (First Minister) |
| Mary Harney TD (Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment) |
Seamus Mallon MP MLA (Deputy First Minister) |
| Michael Woods TD (Minister for Education and Science) |
Bairbre de Brún MLA (Minister of Health, Social Services & Public Safety) |
| Mary O'Rourke TD (Minister for Public Enterprise) |
Mark Durkan MLA (Minister of Finance and Personnel) |
| Joe Walsh TD (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development) |
Sir Reg Empey MLA (Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment) |
| Brian Cowen TD (Minister for Foreign Affairs) |
Sean Farren MLA (Minister of Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment) |
| Noel Dempsey TD (Minister for the Environment and Local Government) |
Sam Foster MLA (Minister of the Environment) |
| Dermot Ahern TD (Minister for Social, Community & Family Affairs) |
Michael McGimpsey MLA (Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure) |
| Síle De Valera TD (Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands) |
Martin McGuinness MP MLA (Minister of Education) |
| John O'Donoghue TD (Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform) |
Brid Rodgers MLA (Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development) |
| Micheál Martin TD (Minister for Health and Children) |
|
| David Andrews TD (Minister for Foreign Affairs) |
|
| Michael Smith (Minister for Defence) |
|
| John O'Donoghue Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform) |
|
| Charlie McCreevy (Minister for Finance) |
| Organisation | Location |
|---|---|
| Waterways Ireland | Headquarters in Enniskillen; 3 regional offices in the South |
| The Food Safety Promotion Board | Headquarters in Cork |
| The Trade & Business Development Body | Headquarters in Newry |
| The Special EU Programmes | Headquarters in Belfast; regional offices in Omagh and Monaghan |
The North/South Language Body
|
Headquarters in Dublin; regional office in Belfast Headquarters in Belfast; regional office in County Donegal |
The , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission
|
Headquarters in Derry; regional office near Carlingford Lough Headquarters in Dublin / Dun Laoghaire |
| Tourism Company (when established) | Headquarters in Dublin; regional office in Coleraine |
Annex B
The Food Safety Promotion Board
- Dr Vincent Cavanagh
- Mr Leslie Craig
- Ms Carmel Foley
- Mr Ronan Garvey
- Professor Mike Gibney
- Professor Cecily Kelleher
- Mr Bertie Kerr
- Mr Damien O'Dwyer
- Dr Danny O'Hare
- Ms Ann Speed
- Professor Sean Strain
Note: One further member to be appointed.
Trade and Business Development Body
- The Duke of Abercorn
- Ms Mary Ainscough
- Ms Mary Breslin
- Mr Harold Ennis
- Mr Barry Fitsimons
- Ms Jackie Harrison
- Mr Carl McCann
- Mr Feargal McCormack
- Ms Inez McCormack
- Mr Kieran McGowan
- Mr Martin Naughton
- Mr Robbie Smith
The North/South Language Body
Members with responsibility for exercise of functions of the Body through the Irish language agency.
- Liam Corey
- Anne Craig
- Gordon McCoy
- Patrick McGlone
- Aodan MacPoilin
- Gearoid MacSiacais
- Treasa Ni Ailpin
- Jacqueline Nic Fheargasa
- Brid Ni Neill
- Maelsheachlainn O Caollai
- Lochlann O Caothain
- Liam O Cuinneagain
- Padraig O Duibhir
- Cionnaith O Suilleabhain
- Seamus O Tonnaigh
- Maighread Ui Mhairtin
Members with responsibility for exercise of functions of the Body through the Ulster-Scots agency
- Dr Padraig de Bhal
- James Devenney
- John Erskine
- Lyn Franks
- Lord Laird of Artigarvan
- Dr Linda Lunney
- John McIntyre
- Dr Philip Robinson
The Carlignford and Irish Lights Commission
- Mr Jack Allen
- Mr Keith Anderson
- Mr Dick Blackiston-Houston
- Lord Cooke of Islandreagh
- Mr Francis Feely
- Dr Patrick J Griffin
- Ms Siobhan Logue
- Mr Joseph Martin
- Mr Arthur Morgan
- Mr Peter Savage
- Ms Sheila Tyrrell
- Mr Andrew Ward
