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Plenary Meeting of the North South Ministerial Council

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, will chair the Twenty fourth plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Dublin Castle. 

The Taoiseach will be joined by members of the Cabinet who will be meeting collectively with the Northern Ireland Executive, led by First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. 

This is the first Plenary Meeting of the NSMC since November 2016 and provides the new Irish Government and the restored Northern Ireland Executive the opportunity to meet formally for the first time and exchange views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern. 

Speaking in advance of the meeting the Taoiseach said:  

I look forward to meeting with First Minister Foster, deputy First Minister O’Neill, and their colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive.

This plenary meeting is an important opportunity for us to discuss the many important issues of mutual concern across this island, including Covid 19 and Brexit.  

I will also take the opportunity to emphasise the Government’s full support for preserving and strengthening North-South co-operation and the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the New Decade, New Approach Agreement is implemented in full.

The Government is focused on working with the Executive through the North South Ministerial Council to deliver projects that benefit people across the island, including greater connectivity between North and South; investing in the North West region and in border communities and supporting reconciliation as an integral part of the Peace Process.