Government Press Releases 2002
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D. will attend the fourth Summit of the British-Irish Council which takes place in New Lanark, Scotland today (Friday, 22 November 2002). He will be accompanied by Ms. Mary Coughlan, Minister for Social and Family Affairs and Mr. Tom Parlon, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., this morning (21 November 2002) welcomed Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the Turkish AK (Justice and Development) party, to Dublin. Mr. Erdogan is touring European capitals with a view to seeking support for the commencement of accession negotiations by Turkey to join the European Union. Mr. Erdogan was accompanied by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr.Yaasar Yakis.
The Taoiseach announced today that following consultations with the participating parties and groups, it has been decided to reconvene the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, as part of wider efforts directed at building confidence and promoting the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. A meeting of the reconvened Forum has been fixed for St. Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 27 November, 2002. The meeting will conduct a general stocktaking and review of the political situation and developments in regard to Northern Ireland and of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. As indicated, this will be complementary to other ongoing activity in this regard, exemplified by the recent talks with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties held by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I welcome and am encouraged by many aspects of Gerry Adams speech this morning. His strong statement of determination to keep the peace process intact and of the recognition of the need to bring closure to all of the key issues is a positive contribution at this difficult time in the process. I share his view that the process we are all embarked upon must involve irreversible change on all sides.
The two Governments are both deeply saddened by today's developments. We remain totally committed to the full implementation of the Agreement which has already brought great gains and tangible benefits to the people of Northern Ireland. It is clear, however, that devolved Government cannot be made to work effectively in circumstances where there has been a breakdown of trust between those involved.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney said that the increase in the National Minimum Wage which comes into effect today (Tuesday 1st October, 2002) is the second increase to the national minimum wage agreed by the social partners and accepted by the Government as part of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Ní fada a bhfuil TG4 ar an mbóhar anois. Ach sna blianta a bhfuil sibh ar an aer, tá saol agus saibhreas cultúrtha na hÉieann méadaithe go mór de bharr bhur sár oibre. Molaim go mór foireann TG4 as ucht na hoibre iontach atá déanta agaibh. Tá súil agam go gcuideoidh na háiseanna nua seo leanúint leis an sár-obair seo ar son na teanga. Ag geáchaint ar aghaidh romhainn, beidh TG4 ábalta seirbhís nos fearr fós a chur ar fáil do mhuintir na hÉireann sa todhcha dá bharr.
Bríd Rogers, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (NI) and & Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Ireland), made a joint announcement today on a new cross border initiative known as the 'North/South Rural Voice'
The Tánaiste made her decision following receipt by her of a report from the Competition Authority recommending that proposal should be allowed to proceed without conditions. The Tánaiste had referred the proposal to the Competition Authority for investigation on 26 July 2002 and the Authority reported on Friday last, 20 September 2002.
The Corruption Assets Bureau will be a statutory body specifically dedicated to tracing and recovering the proceeds of corruption. It will have five important new powers which are not contained in any existing legislation.