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From: owner-irl-news@rutvm1.rutgers.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list IRL-NEWS
Subject: News Uploaded 02/22 1136 CST
Date: 22 February 1995 12:44
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Sender: News and Articles From and About Ireland
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Poster: "Robert J. Dooling" (WildeRove@AOL.COM)
Subject: News Uploaded 02/22 1136 CST
News ....... Jay Dooling
PA 2/22/95 6:05 AM IMPORTANT EU ROLE FOR CROSS-BORDER BODY
PA 2/22/95 6:04 AM IT'S ULSTER'S EVICTION NOTICE, SAYS DUP CHIEF
PA 2/22/95 6:02 AM WIDE POWERS PLANNED FOR NEW ULSTER ASSEMBLY
PA 2/22/95 5:59 AM CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES ALLOW PEOPLE TO DECIDE ULSTER'S
PA 2/22/95 5:14 AM DOCUMENT PROPOSES CHARTER OF RIGHTS
*********************************
IMPORTANT EU ROLE FOR CROSS-BORDER BODY
PA 2/22/95 6:05 AM
By Sian Clare, Political Correspondent, PA News
A new cross-border body would be established to enable North and South
to co-operate on a range of
issues of mutual concern.
It would carry out its functions, which include substantial powers in
relation to the European Union,
through a range of subsidiary bodies.
Heads of department representing the Irish government and new democratic
institutions in Northern
Ireland will sit on the body which will be enshrined in the legislation of
both Parliaments.
The two governments, in agreement with the parties, will initially
decide the range of matters to be
covered by the body. Subsequently, the two administrations North and South
will be able to designate
issues to the body.
People in relevant posts in each of the administrations would be obliged
to serve on the body and all its
decisions would be carried out by agreement between the two sides.
It will discharge or oversee delegated executive, harmonising or
consultative functions over a range of
matters.
It was the suggestion of the creation of a cross-border body with
executive powers which infuriated the
Unionists before today's document was even published.
Both governments have agreed that the body would have an important role
in developing an agreed
approach for the whole island in respect of the EU.
The body's executive powers would cover all EU programmes and
initiatives to be implemented on a
cross-border or island-wide basis.
EXECUTIVE powers: In the case of these responsibilities, the body would be
directly responsible for
establishing an agreed policy and for implementing it on a joint basis. But
it could suggest that existing
bodies or new bodies carry out the agreed policy.
Both governments are continuing to consider the range of functions that
might, with the agreement of the
parties, come into this category.
The framework document says the functions would include sectors
involving a natural or physical
all-Ireland framework, EU programmes and initiatives, marketing and
promotion activities abroad and culture
and heritage.
HARMONISING powers: These are likely to include aspects of agriculture
and fisheries, industrial
development, consumer affairs, transport, energy, trade, health, social
welfare, education and economic
policy.
For example, the category of agriculture and fisheries might include
research, training and advisory
services and animal welfare.
Health might include co-operative ventures in medical, paramedical and
nursing training, cross-border
provision of hospital services and major emergency/accident planning.
Education might include mutual recognition of teacher qualifications,
co-operative ventures in higher
education, in teacher training, in education for mutual understanding and
for specialised needs.
A range of functions would also be carried out at a CONSULTATIVE level.
The framework document stresses that any new Northern Ireland political
structures must depend on the
co-operation of the elected representatives in the province.
Both governments accept that cross-community agreement is an essential
requirement for the
establishment and operation of such structures.
They both strongly support the need for a provision for cross-community
consensus in relation to decisions
affecting the "basic rights, concerns and fundamental interests" of both
communities.
Although the "principles and overall context" of such structures are a
"recognised concern" of both
governments, they accept that they would be most effectively negotiated by
the parties in Northern Ireland.
The document says the new arrangements could return "power, authority
and responsibility" to
locally-elected representatives in Northern Ireland on a basis acceptable
to both sides of the community.