Taoiseach Simon Harris will today chair the twenty-eighth Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin.
This is the second plenary meeting of the Council since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive in early February.
The Taoiseach will lead members of the Cabinet who will be meeting collectively with the Northern Ireland Executive led by First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA.
Following the last plenary meeting in Armagh in April, it is the Government of Ireland’s turn to host.
Discussions are likely to focus on areas of mutual interest, and ongoing co-operation through the restored North South Ministerial Council and the North South implementation bodies.
Speaking in advance, the Taoiseach said: “I look forward to hosting my first plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council as Taoiseach. It presents an excellent opportunity to meet with the Northern Ireland Executive so soon after the visit of PM Starmer to Dublin, and to ensure that all the strands of the Good Friday Agreement are functioning and delivering benefits for people across this island.”
Mr Harris has attended Council meetings in the past but today is his first time attending and hosting as Taoiseach.
“I will use this opportunity to emphasise my commitment, as Taoiseach, to strengthening North-South consultation, co-operation and action. In recent months, we have seen milestones reached on a number of North-South and all-island projects, such as the Narrow Water Bridge and the Ulster Canal. There is an opportunity now through political engagement across Government with Northern Ireland Executive counterparts, to identify where further we can more effectively improve day-to-day life and opportunity on this island through practical North-South co-operation”.
The North South Ministerial Council was set up under the 1998 Good Friday agreement and is charged with developing all island and cross border cooperation and actions.
The Council oversees a number of North South bodies and all island activity across a range of areas such as health, transport, agriculture and tourism.
Meetings did not happen while power sharing in Northern Ireland was suspended but have resumed since the Northern Executive was restored.
Additional reporting: Joe Mag Raollaigh
