The North/South institutions of the Good Friday Agreement
North/South Ministerial Council and Implementation Bodies
20. The programme of activity ahead for the Body includes:
· the finalisation of the role and function of the Body's Scientific Advisory
Committee;
· getting the HQ up and running in Cork; and
· finalising decisions on the precise scope of work of the Body, drawing on the work of six Expert Groups set up to advise the Body on its six main functions, namely:
Ø the promotion of food safety;
Ø research into food safety;
Ø the communications of food alerts;
Ø the surveillance of food-borne diseases;
Ø the promotion of scientific co-operation and linkages between laboratories;
Ø the development of cost-effective facilities for specialised laboratory testing.
21. The Food Safety Promotion Board was formally launched in Enniskillen on 3 November, 2000 by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., and the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Bairbre de Brún M.L.A. The Board is chaired by Councillor Bertie Kerr and the vice-Chairperson is Professor Mike Gibney .
22. Trade and Business Development Body - InterTradeIreland
Lead Ministers in the NSMC:
Northern Ireland Executive: Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise,
Trade and Investment (normally accompanied by Dr Seán Farren, MLA, Minister
of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment who has responsibility
in Northern Ireland for aspects of the remit of the Body).
Irish Government: Ms Mary Harney, TD, Tanáiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
23. The Chief Executive is Mr Liam Nellis. InterTradeIreland may be contacted at:
Old Gasworks Business Pk
Kilmorey Street
Newry
Co. Down BT34 2DE
Tel: 028/048 30834100
Fax: 028/048 30834155
Website: www.intertradeireland.com
24. The Trade and Business Development Body, which operates under the name InterTradeIreland, exercises a valuable range of functions in the trade and business Sector. Under the overall policy direction of the NSMC, InterTradeIreland works in close collaboration with the existing development agencies, North and South, with a focus on promoting North/South trade by building business capability and competitiveness. InterTradeIreland aims to add value to the work being carried out by the existing development agencies.
25. InterTradeIreland also has objectives to enhance competitiveness by encouraging information share, joint marketing initiatives, joint research and development and other ventures as well as maximising the potential of e-business across the island.
26. The NSMC has appointed the Body's 12 member Board and has approved the appointment of the Chief Executive. When fully operational it is projected to have a staffing complement of 42. The Board is Chaired by Mr Martin Naughton and the vice-Chair is Mr Harold Ennis.
27. Among the Body's main activities to date have been the following:
(i) the completion by the Body of studies on four key areas relating to
its potential role - Testing and Analytical Services, Standards Certification
and Accreditation, Graduate Placement Programmes, Equity Investment Funds;
(ii) the holding of four Road Shows in November, 2000, in Dublin, Belfast,
the Shannon Region and the North-West which introduced InterTradeIreland
to the business community;
(iii) the establishment of an Inter-Agency Forum, bringing together company
support staff in all the development agencies on the island;
(iv) hosting an all-island e-commerce workshop on E-Business/E Commerce
Initiatives;
(v) arranging a major sub-supply road show bringing together small companies
and major multi-national buyers to develop new markets and trading links;
and
vi) developing nine sectoral reports indentifying opportunities, North and
South, in the retail sector. |
