The North/South institutions of the Good Friday Agreement
North/South Ministerial Council and Implementation Bodies
35. The North/South Language Body
Lead Ministers in the NSMC:
Northern Ireland Executive: Mr Michael McGimpsey, MLA, Minister of Culture,
Arts and Leisure
Irish Government: Mr Eamon ó Cuív, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
36. Interim Chief Executives have been appointed as follows:
Foras na Gaeilge: Mr Micheál ó Gruagáin Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch: Mr John Hegarty
7 Cearnóg Mhuirfean Franklin House
Baile átha Cliath 2 10-12 Brunswick Street
Tel: 00 3531 639 8400 Belfast BT2 7GE
Fax: 00 3531 639 8467 Tel: 028/048 90231113
Fax: 028/048 90231898
37. Foras na Gaeilge will also have a sub-office in Belfast. The Ulster Scots Agency will have a sub-office in Co. Donegal.
38. The Language Body is a single Body reporting to the NSMC, but composed of two separate and largely autonomous agencies: the Irish Language Agency, Foras na Gaeilge, and the Ulster-Scots Agency, Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch. Foras na Gaeilge, which took over the functions of Bord na Gaeilge, has responsibility for the promotion of the Irish language on an all-island basis. Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch has responsibility for the promotion of greater awareness and use of Ullans and of Ulster-Scots cultural issues, both within Northern Ireland, and throughout the island. The Body has a board of 24 members appointed by the NSMC. The Chairperson of the Foras na Gaeilge, Maighréad Uí Mháirtín, and the Chairperson of Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch, George Patton, are joint Chairpersons of the Body. The Body will appoint a Chief Executive for each agency subject to the approval of the NSMC. When fully operational the Body will have a projected staff of 77.
39. The decisions taken by the NSMC to date in relation to the Language Body include:
(i) The approval of Foras na Gaeilge's interim programme of activities for
2001 including the development of a corporate plan and the allocation of
over IR£7m to Irish language projects;
(ii) The approval in principle of funding amounting to IR£3.1m over a five
year
period for the production of a modern, high quality English/Irish Dictionary;
(iii) The agreement in principle to a Foras na Gaeilge 3 year action plan
to ensure
that there is an adequate supply of Irish language textbooks and resources
available to schools North and South;
(iv) The approval of a corporate plan for Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch at a
cost of
£1.45m which focuses on developing the Ulster-Scots language and culture,
promoting their study and the promoting the public's understanding of the
language and culture.
40. Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission
Lead Ministers in the NSMC:
Northern Ireland Executive: Ms Bríd Rodgers, MLA, Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development
Irish Government: Mr Frank Fahey, TD, Minister for Marine and Natural Resources
41. The Chief Executive is Mr Derick Anderson. The Commission can be contacted
at
22 Victoria Road
Waterside
Derry/Londonderry BT47 2AB
Tel: 028/048 71 314107
Fax: 028/048 71 342720
E-mail: loughs@loughs-agency.org
42. The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission will develop the significant potential for the development of aquaculture and marine tourism in the areas concerned, with obvious benefit to the local economies. Complex legislation will be brought forward in both jurisdictions to provide for the agreed functions of the development and licensing of aquaculture. The Commissioners of Irish Lights is a reserved matter for which the Whitehall Department of Environment, Transport and Regions has responsibility. However, it has been agreed that British and Irish legislation will be brought forward to make the Body the General Lighthouse Authority for the island of Ireland (GLA). This legislation is being prepared and will be brought forward as soon as possible. The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission has a board of 12 members appointed by the NSMC; the Commission is Chaired by Mr Peter Savage and the vice-Chair is Lord Cooke of Islandreagh. The functions of the Body in relation to the Foyle and Carlingford areas is exercised through an agency of the Body known as the Loughs Agency. The functions of the Body in relation to the (GLA) will be exercised through an agency known as the Lights Agency. When fully operational, the Loughs Agency is projected to have a staff of 43.
43. To date, the NSMC meeting in the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission Sector has approved
· proposals for consultation with Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Interests;
· the finalisation of Regulations to provide for the tagging of caught and
retained wild salmon and sea trout and the keeping of records in log books,
· the preparation of Regulations to increase protection of migratory salmonids,
and
· the bringing forward of costed proposals for the provision of grants in
the year 2001 to aid aquaculture, fisheries development and marine tourism.
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