Northern Ireland

North-South Ministerial Council meeting to go ahead in Armagh despite DUP wrangling

Paul Givan with DUP leader Edwin Poots. Mr Givan, who was nominated first minister, is due to attend the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh
Paul Givan with DUP leader Edwin Poots. Mr Givan, who was nominated first minister, is due to attend the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh Paul Givan with DUP leader Edwin Poots. Mr Givan, who was nominated first minister, is due to attend the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh

PAUL Givan and Michelle O'Neill are due to attend a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh today.

It had been unclear if the meeting would go ahead amid continued DUP party in-fighting.

The NSMC is the main body for cross-border co-operation between Stormont and the Irish government.

As part of the DUP’s continued protests against the Northern Ireland Protocol, party ministers had previously refused to take part north-south engagement where the protocol was discussed.

In a statement last night the Irish Government said the taoiseach would attend the 26th plenary meeting in the Armagh City Hotel "hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive".

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

"This will be the first in-person NSMC plenary meeting in Northern Ireland since 2016 and provides the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive the opportunity to meet formally to exchange views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern."

Speaking ahead of the meeting Michéal Martin said:

“I welcome the appointment of Paul Givan as First Minister and Michelle O’Neill as deputy First Minister. This will allow the Northern Ireland Executive to continue its essential work on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland to the end of its mandate next year. I look forward to working with them and all parties in the Northern Ireland Executive, including at this plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.

“The meeting will be an important opportunity to emphasise the Government’s full support for strengthening North-South co-operation to the benefit of all the people on the island.

The plenary will also provide Ministers with an opportunity to update on and discuss many important issues including the response to Covid-19 on the island of Ireland, the implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the Government’s commitment to implementation of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement commitments.”