ExternalExternal RelationshipsRelationships

North South Ministerial Council DUP are now prepared

to accept some “Irish Dimension”.

The ROI was putting large amounts of money into the NSMC (this was good for us but bad for them). They put £46million out of £56 million into the NSMC.

In 2001, First Minister David Trimble banned SF over time issues on decommissioning. Nationalists say attempts are being made to “slow and strangle” cross-border cooperation.

DUP boycotted the meetings and this created extra work for the Dublin Ministers, who were already uninterested and unhappy with the NSMC. This affected the area of transport, as the minister was from the DUP.

The “Six Areas of Cooperation” are not of huge significance e.g. Foyle, Carlingford and Lights Commission (2008).

The NMSC cannot work unless the Assembly is in session. This is bad as the Assembly has been suspended four times, that’s 3 ½ years of the NSMC working.

British Irish CouncilBritish Irish Council

British-Irish Intergovernmental British-Irish Intergovernmental ConferenceConference

Designed to replace the Designed to replace the Anglo-Irish Conference.Anglo-Irish Conference.

Created under strand 3 of Created under strand 3 of GFAGFA

Task is to promote bilateral Task is to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of co-operation on matters of mutual interest between the mutual interest between the British and Irish British and Irish Governments, in particular Governments, in particular issues that are relevant to issues that are relevant to NI.NI.

Attended by : British PMAttended by : British PM TaoiseachTaoiseach Reps. Of NIReps. Of NI

Topics of mutual interest Topics of mutual interest and concern are and concern are discussed.discussed.

Brings together members Brings together members of both North and South of both North and South governments.governments.

Appears to be working Appears to be working well well

Last meeting in Dundalk Last meeting in Dundalk 20072007