Trade and Business JC 24 January 2000

1. A meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral Format was held in Newry on 24 January 2000. The meeting dealt with issues relating to Trade and Business Development and, in particular, to the North/South Implementation Body which has been established in this area. The Council also appointed the Chairpersons and the Vice Chairpersons of the Boards of the Implementation Bodies and an additional member to the Food Safety Promotion Board.

2. The Northern Ireland Executive Committee Delegation comprised Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Dr Sean Farren MLA, Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. The Irish Government was represented by Ms Mary Harney TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

3. Both sides acknowledged the significance of the occasion as the first meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral Format, following the Inaugural Plenary meeting of the Council on 13 December 1999. They agreed that, under the remit which had been given to it, the Trade and Business Development Body would have an important role to play in enhancing co-operation between North and South on business development issues, and in the promotion of trade between the two parts of the island, and indeed more generally when tasked jointly by the Council in that regard. Both sides agreed that these areas held real potential for mutual benefit in economic terms for North and South, and they looked forward to working together in the Council and with the Body to ensure that this potential was realized to the full.

4. The Council appointed the Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of the Advisory Board of the Food Safety Promotion Board, and of the

5. Management Boards of the Trade and Business Development Body, the North/South Language Body and the Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. These are set out in the attached Annex. It also appointed Mr Don Anderson as a member of the Food Safety Promotion Board. This was in addition to the members appointed at the Plenary meeting of the Council on 13 December .

6. Welcoming the appointment of Mr Martin Naughton and Mr Harold Ennis as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively of the Management Board of the Trade and Business Development Body, both sides looked forward to working closely with them and their colleagues on the Board. Following the Council meeting, the Ministers met jointly for the first time with the members of the Board.

7. The Council considered and agreed proposals for the procedure to be followed in relation to the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Trade and Business Development Body. In particular, it agreed that the post would be publicly advertised in early February, with the objective of having the successful candidate in post by the end of April.

8. The interim Chief Executive of Trade and Business Development Body, Mr Liam Nellis, made an initial report to the Council on progress being made on establishing the Body. It was agreed at the Plenary meeting of the Council on 13 December that the Headquarters of the Body would be in Newry.

9. The Council considered an indicative timetable for a number of key issues would need to be brought to the Council over the next 12 months by the Management Board of the Body. These issues included a draft Year 2000 Corporate Plan; a draft Code of Practice for Staff and for Board members; a proposed Staffing structure, including terms and conditions of service; and a Statement of Account and an Annual Report. The Council endorsed these proposals.

10. The Council considered and agreed a draft schedule setting out proposed timeframes for future Sectoral meetings of the Council.

11. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this Sectoral format would take place in the South on the 22nd March 2000.

Joint Secretariat

24 January 2000