The North/South institutions of the Good Friday Agreement
North/South Ministerial Council and Implementation Bodies
Background Note
28. At the fourth NSMC meeting in the Trade and Business Development Sector in February, 2001, the Council approved InterTradeIreland's Operating Plan for 2001. Major initiatives planned include:
· Promoting a small number of strategic business networks in the border
area with a focus on developing hi-tech businesses;
· Supporting science and technological innovation in companies on a cross-border
basis;
· Supporting the development of e-commerce throughout the island including
the establishment of an all-island research fund;
· Assisting in the strengthening of the local 'supply chain' to both multi-national
and indigenous companies on the island of Ireland;
· Increasing awareness of the potential of public procurement on both parts of the island as an area of opportunity for expansion of business North and South.
InterTradeIreland also plan to support a number of major all-island awards schemes for design and innovation throughout the year.
29. The Council has also approved InterTradeIreland's detailed proposals to introduce two graduate placement programmes on a cross-border basis, one linking business and graduates and the other linking business and third-level institutions.
30. The Plenary meeting of the NSMC in September 2000 considered an Irish Government paper on enhancing the competitiveness of the two economies on the island, North and South. It was agreed, at that time, that it would be valuable if further consideration could be given to the matter by the Council at its Trade and Business Development Format. At the October 2000 meeting in this format, the Council agreed that the study would be taken forward by InterTradeIreland in co-operation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Dublin and Belfast respectively. In this regard, InterTradeIreland brought forward a number of specific recommendations to the February 2001 meeting of the Council in relation to areas where the Body considered it could address all-island competitiveness issues, for example in areas such as innovation and information and communication technology. The Ministers noted and approved the proposals put forward by InterTradeIreland and agreed that the proposals should be taken forward in co-operation with the two Departments with a view to progress being reported to the next Plenary meeting.
31. The Special European Union Programmes Body
Lead Ministers in the NSMC:
Northern Ireland Executive: Mr Mark Durkan, MLA, Minister of Finance and
Personnel Irish Government: Mr Charlie McCreevy, TD, Minister for Finance
32. The Chief Executive is Mr John McKinney. The Body can be contacted at
Commercial Union House
1-3 Donegall Square South
Belfast BTI 5LN
Tel: 028/048-9054 88 48
Fax: 028/048-9054 89 39
E-mail: info@seupb.org
Regional offices have been established in Monaghan and Omagh.
33. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has significant managerial and oversight functions in relation to the new Community Initiatives under the post-1999 Structural Funds [INTERREG III, LEADER +, URBAN II AND EQUAL]. The Body also has responsibility for monitoring and promoting the implementation of the Common Chapter in the National Development Plans of the two Administrations, North and South. The Body's importance was significantly enhanced by the decision of the European Council to allocate substantial funds for a new Peace Programme - the North/South elements of which fall to the Body to implement. A permanent Chief Executive, Mr John McKinney, has been appointed to the Body by the NSMC. When fully operational, it is projected that the Body will have a staff of 25.
34. The programme of activity ahead for the Special EU Programmes Body includes:
· implementing remaining aspects of the current EU Peace and Interreg programmes;
· concluding the negotiations with the European Commission in relation to
the EU Peace II programme and developing the Programme Complement for the
delivery of the programme;
· participating in the negotiations with the European Commission in respect
of INTERREG III, LEADER +, URBAN II and EQUAL; and
· liaising with Departments of Finance and other Departments North and South
in taking forward the Common Chapter of the Northern Ireland Structural
Funds Plan and the National Development Plan for Ireland. |
