North South Council must be restored, says Eastwood
SDLP leader’s concern as new body to strengthen east-west links meets
THE SDLP is calling for the “urgent restoration” of the North South Ministerial Council after Stormont ministers attended the first meeting of a new body aimed at strengthening links across the UK.
First Minister Michelle O‘neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-pengelly, Economy Minister Conor Murphy, and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attended the inaugural meeting of the East-west Council in London on Tuesday.
The body — initially proposed by the DUP — was established under the party’s deal with the Government to restore power-sharing. It is designed to improve business and educational links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove chaired the first meeting in Dover House, which was also attended by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-harris.
Work to align Government funding streams with the stated priorities of the Stormont Executive was one of the main areas covered.
Two funding announcements were made: £150m to develop an Enhanced Investment Zone and £17m through the Shared Prosperity Fund to both improve adult numeracy and support business innovation here.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: “It is particularly concerning that the North South Minister Council (NSMC) has yet to be re-established while a new Eastwest Council — designed and established as part of discussions between the DUP and the British Government which excluded nationalists and others — has already been convened and given credibility as a result of the First Minister’s attendance.
“It is time for the North South Ministerial Council to resume its business. After the suspension of council meetings during the twoyear abeyance in devolved government, ministers across our island must recommit themselves to addressing the challenges our communities face together.
“I am concerned that the
NSMC, a core institution of the Good Friday Agreement, has yet to be convened following the restoration of power-sharing.”
Mr Eastwood added: “The erosion of North-south cooperation is one of the significant failures of devolution to date, we cannot let that continue.
“We will be writing to the First and deputy First Ministers and the Irish government to ensure that North-south cooperation is restored, enhanced and maximised to the benefit of communities across Ireland in the weeks ahead.”
However, both Ms O’neill and Ms Little-pengelly insisted the East-west Council did not undermine the Good Friday Agreement’s existing structures.
The First Minister said it didn’t have the same status or powers as any of the intergovernmental bodies created under the peace accord.
“It is a forum in which we can discuss these things, it’s a forum in which we can improve relations, but it obviously doesn’t have that statutory powers which other bodies would have.
“I wouldn’t allow anything to undermine the Good Friday Agreement,” she said.
Ms Little-pengelly rejected the suggestion the council was the DUP’S attempt to bypass the Agreement’s structures.
“The institutions of the Belfast/good Friday Agreement persist, they remain,” she said.
“We’ll be having the first meeting of the North South Ministerial Council very shortly. We’ll also be having a meeting of the British Irish Council in June coming up this year. So of course, those bodies will continue,” she said.