Debate contribution: North/South Ministerial Council: Institutional and Plenary Meetings

Debate contribution by Ms Michelle O'Neill on 17 November 2025.

MLA

Ms Michelle O'Neill

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

17 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

North/South Ministerial Council: Institutional and Plenary Meetings

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5245086

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In compliance with section 52C(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I make the following statement on the fourteenth institutional meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the thirtieth plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council, both of which were held at Farmleigh House in Dublin on 17 October 2025. The deputy First Minister and I agreed that I would provide the report. I begin with the institutional meeting. The deputy First Minister and I represented the Executive and chaired the institutional meeting. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris TD represented the Irish Government. The first item of business was an update from the joint secretaries on actions since the last meeting, and the Council welcomed the engagement that continues across all NSMC sectors on areas of importance to both Administrations. Ministers noted that work is under way across the North/South bodies and their sponsor Departments to develop three-year corporate plans that will set the strategic direction of the bodies over the years ahead. The NSMC welcomed the fact that the next all-island disaster risk reduction conference will take place in early 2026 and practitioners from both jurisdictions will attend and participate. Ministers welcomed the continuing opportunities for developing mutually beneficial cooperation, including through the PEACE PLUS programme and work to develop a successor programme and through the Shared Island initiative. The Council then considered matters relating to the North/South implementation bodies and noted that the freedom of information code of practice is in the process of being reviewed to ensure that it remains aligned with principles regarding access to information across both jurisdictions. Ministers also agreed that an exercise be undertaken to collectively review the grading of the CEO posts of the North/South bodies. The Council then discussed developments in the wider policy environment. The NSMC noted the progress on the strategic partnership between the British Government and the European Union that sets out a joint commitment to deepen cooperation. Ministers noted that cooperation between the jurisdictions will continue in the context of the evolving nature of relations and will be monitored to keep the NSMC apprised of relevant developments. The Council recognised the importance of continued investment in the PEACE PLUS programme and welcomed the PEACE PLUS project, Developing Irish Sea Cooperation, known as "DISC", being delivered with partners in both jurisdictions. The next item was a technical matter relating to the pensions for those employed in the North/South bodies. The NSMC approved amendments to the pension schemes that will apply to the North/South implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland. The Council then approved the appointment of four directors to the board of Tourism Ireland. The meeting closed with the NSMC agreeing to meet again in institutional format in spring 2026. Following the institutional meeting, the thirtieth plenary meeting of the NSMC took place. The deputy First Minister and I again led the Executive delegation, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin led the Irish Government delegation and chaired the meeting. The first item on the agenda related to business and trade matters. The Council had an exchange of views on international and domestic business and trade developments since the previous plenary meeting, including on the UK-US and EU-US trade deals. Ministers recalled that, in what remains an evolving international trading environment, the two Administrations will remain engaged with one another on business and trade matters. The Council also recalled that, where appropriate, the NSMC sectors should continue to consider how agreed collaborative approaches can contribute to the promotion of economic growth. Ministers noted that the most recent combined figures for trade in goods and services between the two jurisdictions showed a total value of £12·4 billion or €14·3 billion. The Council welcomed the hosting of the twenty-eighth TCI global conference on 14 to 16 October by InterTradeIreland in partnership with Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland. The next topic of discussion was emergency planning and preparedness. The NSMC welcomed the regular and ongoing collaboration between officials in both jurisdictions on civil contingencies, resilience and emergency preparedness. The Council agreed to enhance strategic cooperation between the office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence and the civil contingencies division in the Executive Office. Ministers welcomed the developing collaboration between the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and the Fire and Rescue Service, including on investment, cooperation and collaboration on the training facilities and capacity of both services. The Council welcomed the ongoing engagement between system operators to coordinate mitigations and supports in the event of power-system emergencies in the single electricity market. The NSMC agreed that both Administrations will remain in close contact during the upcoming winter storm season, given the significant impact that both jurisdictions experienced during storm Éowyn and the support that was provided on a cross-jurisdictional basis. The Council then received a progress report from the joint secretaries. It noted that engagement on a wide range of policy areas continued across all NSMC areas of cooperation and that NSMC meetings continued across all sectors and were in the process of being arranged for the autumn/winter period. The Council further noted that Ministers at the relevant sectoral meetings have discussed climate change and loss of biodiversity. We then discussed infrastructure and investment cooperation and noted the decision of the Department for Infrastructure to appeal the judgement against the A5 western transport corridor, with the appeal scheduled to be heard in December. Ministers noted that Waterways Ireland continues to progress phase 3 of the Ulster canal restoration project and that the Narrow Water bridge main construction project is proceeding to schedule. The NSMC noted the continued collaboration to progress the all-Ireland strategic rail review's recommendations and welcomed the increase in passenger numbers through the hourly service introduced on the Belfast to Dublin corridor. Ministers noted the progress that has been made on the Ulster University Magee expansion project and welcomed the submission of the formal planning application for the construction of a new teaching block. The Council welcomed the progress that has been made on the delivery of collaborative research and innovation programmes. The NSMC welcomed the official opening of the Carlingford lough greenway, noted the progression to phase 3 for the Sligo to Enniskillen greenway and recognised the continued cross-border collaboration on other greenway projects, including the Ulster canal greenway. Ministers welcomed the significant stakeholder engagement undertaken by the Government of Ireland to aid the advancement of their Programme for Government commitment to establish air connectivity between Dublin Airport and City of Derry Airport, with a view to publishing a market-sounding exercise this year and having ongoing interaction with their Executive counterparts on the approach. The Council welcomed the progress on the implementation of the PEACE PLUS programme and the discussions with relevant stakeholders on a successor to the current PEACE PLUS programme. We then moved on to have a very good discussion on ending violence against women and girls, recognising the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and violence against women and girls that are prevalent across both jurisdictions. The Council agreed that there is an opportunity for more potential collaboration on initiatives with a protection focus, including child protection in the context of gender-based violence. Ministers also agreed that there is an opportunity for joint working on prevention-focused interventions through all-island awareness-raising initiatives. The Council recognised that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a significant issue in both jurisdictions and that it also has a cross-border dimension and agreed that there is opportunity for cooperation in that area.

Ministers then approved an indicative schedule for future NSMC sectoral meetings, meetings in institutional format and the next plenary meeting in June 2026.

In the paper, I set out updates on where we are across a wide range of areas of cooperation. The many varied areas of cooperation continue to go from strength to strength and include issues that we are looking at on a practical basis, be that the strategic railway review; the A5; mother-and-baby institutions; or working on ending violence against women and girls. I set out, clearly, the wide range of areas of cooperation, and I genuinely believe that there is a strong appetite among Ministers to continue to build on that into the future. I have no doubt that they will continue to do so.

It is important that every organisation has its corporate plan, but also that that plan is laid out publicly so that everybody has a chance to scrutinise it, and that the organisation can stand over it. Openness and transparency is key. I have no doubt that all the reports that we discussed at the meeting will be public for everybody to scrutinise, be that on the Loughs Agency website or that of an Foras Teanga or any of the other bodies.

We had a good discussion about growing our economy. That included discussing the opportunities that we have but also the challenges, not least those that exist due to the fact that we are caught in the middle of a trade war. Regardless of whether the tariffs are at a UK level or EU level, my interest is in ensuring that we grow our economy. We have huge opportunity to grow our all-island economy. I touched briefly in the statement on the figures from which you can see the economic growth and the value of all-island trade. That will continue to grow, so it is important that we fight our corner. I do so at every turn.

Yes, I noted those figures, which were released towards the end of last week. They are a strong, positive endorsement and show that there is a huge demand from Irish citizens who live in the North for access to an Irish passport office. The figures further underline the case that I would make personally — a view shared by many — for the need to have an Irish passport office here in the North. I ask the Irish Government to take heed of the fact that so many people want to have an Irish passport and to provide that service. I continue to raise that issue at every turn with the Irish Government.

As the Member knows, that is an issue that has been going on for some time, and we want to get a resolution. We need to get the interconnector built. That has always been our view. We know the challenges, including the legal challenges, that have occurred along that journey. We continue to discuss the issue at North/South Ministerial Council level. The Member referred to the paragraph in the statement in which I mention how we discussed emergency planning, not least for storms. There are lots of opportunities for cooperation in that way, and we will continue to pursue them.

I thank the Member for his question. I absolutely concur that the A5 remains an Executive priority. We must see the A5 built. We know that we have faced legal challenges and setbacks, but, given the number of lives lost on that road, building it is a safety issue. Think about what happened over the weekend on another stretch of road, where there was the tragedy of five young people losing their lives. We therefore have to get the A5 built. The Minister for Infrastructure is absolutely determined to see it built, and she is going through the appeal process now. I hope that the appeal will be successful. We have to build the A5, however, and we are not going to let up. The situation has been going on for far too long. The A5 is a strategic project for the Executive. It must be built, because of what it will mean for improving safety, regional balance, connectivity and our communities in rural areas.

Very good. I can absolutely assure the Member that, unfortunately, the reality, for now, is that we have two jurisdictions on the island. That is something that I hope to change, however. I hope that others, perhaps those on this side of the House, will assist us in doing that. We have been very clear that it is preferable for the cables for the North/South interconnector to be underground. We have gone through all the legal processes in the North, but there are two jurisdictions, and that has led to two different scenarios. The situation is not of our making. Unfortunately, it is the political reality for now, but I hope to change that.

That is their very role. I can write to the Member to provide him with the detail on how the process was conducted. I do not have that information here with me. The Irish Government nominated the four directors, because there were vacancies to fill. They are Ruth Andrews, Stephen McNally, Des Annett and Pat O'Leary. Full details about those individuals and their appointment are all on the website.

Yes, I can give the Member that assurance. We introduced the issue on to the agenda of the North/South Ministerial Council some time ago. We are committed to collaboration, and we all recognise that we have a similar problem right across the island. The preventative work is absolutely necessary, however. I genuinely believe that there is a great willingness to cooperate. The relevant Ministers have been tasked with working together to look at potential initiatives, not least by looking at the Shared Island unit for a funding model that will allow us to explore a coordinated approach to dealing with some of the preventative work. Our officials, working alongside officials in Dublin, will explore the issue further and hopefully make even more progress in the time ahead.

Yes, I absolutely do. We talk about the many challenges that we have in our economy, but, equally, we have many opportunities. Dual market access is one such opportunity. The fact that it gives us access to more than 500 million customers and a market worth almost £6 trillion shows us that we must reach for and grab it. It will benefit our domestic exporters. It will also be a unique selling point, which is certainly the message that we give when we engage with ambassadors and international visitors and companies. When we meet them, we talk about the fact that we have dual market access, and we continue to highlight that as our unique selling point. More people will be more interested in investing in this place as a direct result of it.

The potential for a successor programme to PEACE PLUS was discussed at the meeting and at the summit between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister in March. They publicly said that they had agreed in principle to a successor programme, but I agree with the Member that we need to influence how that is shaped. We discussed that at the meeting. It will be a matter for ongoing engagement between the Department of Finance and its counterpart in the Twenty-six Counties. There is a lot of work to be done on translating what is, at the moment, a somewhat high-level agreement into detail. We may have a road to travel in shaping that, but we want to make sure that it delivers maximum benefit for people here and that we see the excellent work that went into the previous programme continue.

2,536 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:48 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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