IW JC 21 June 2000

1. The first meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Inland Waterways Sectoral Format was held on Wednesday 21 June 2000. The meeting dealt with issues relating to Waterways Ireland, which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies.

2. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee Delegation comprised Mr Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Ms Bairbre de Brún MLA, Minister of Health, Social Services & Public Safety. The Irish Government was represented by Ms Síle de Valera, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

3. Both sides recognised the significance of the meeting as the first Sectoral meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council on inland waterways matters. They agreed that the Body would have an important role to play in enhancing co-operation between North and South in managing, maintaining and developing principally for recreational purposes the main inland waterways of the island.

4. The Interim Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland, Mr John Mahony, made an oral report to the Council. He indicated that the work of establishing the Body had gone smoothly and reported on how he proposed to take the work forward. The Council noted the current position and looked forward to working closely with the Body.

5. The Council considered and agreed the Action Plan for the Body recommended by the Interim Chief Executive, including its budget and works programme for 2000.

6. The Council considered and agreed the Interim Chief Executive's proposals for developing the organisation and structure of the new Body, which would be headquartered in Enniskillen, with regional offices in Scarriff, Carrick-on-Shannon and Dublin.

7. The Council considered and agreed the Interim Chief Executive's proposals for an Outline Draft Equality Scheme for Waterways Ireland.

8. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sectoral format in the South in September 2000.

Joint Secretariat

21 June 2000