Ireland of Equals Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Expanding the All Ireland aspects of the GFA

Expansion of All Ireland Institutions and Areas of Work

Introduction

The political potential of all-Ireland structures, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement complements the reunification project. This needs to be developed.

Sinn Féin is committed to the development of all-Ireland structures to foster an Ireland of equals; structures which will impact positively on of Irish life and society.

In a period of transition, the all-Ireland element of the GFA is a vehicle for driving Sinn Féin's all-Ireland agenda.

Provisions of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA)

The provisions of the GFA for advancing the all-Ireland agenda include: The All Ireland Consultative Forum, the Joint Parliamentary Forum, The All Ireland Charter of Human Rights and the All Ireland Ministerial Council (AIMC). Twelve areas of co-operation have been identified - six of which have Implementation Bodies covering a limited remit. Sinn Féin must promote and expand the effective remits of these fledgling institutions.

Road Map to a United Ireland

Firstly, the all-Ireland logic that informs the work of these institutions could, provided the political dynamic is sustained, be the embryonic form of united Ireland institutions. The establishment and development of the institutions represents steps towards the integration of existing systems of administration and government, which takes us closer to a united Ireland.

Characterised by Equal Rights and Rights to Equality

Secondly, this would facilitate an approach to government, which has the potential to place human rights and equality centre stage. Ministers - North and South - work within a framework for governance in Ireland that is unique in two respects:

Where Anti Poverty and Social Inclusion are built in

Ministers in the all-Ireland council will consult with the all-Ireland Consultative Forum composed of the social partners and civic society. This experiment in participatory democracy has a potential to places issues of concern at centre stage. Equality, spending on social development, social inclusion, anti poverty strategies and anti-discrimination measures (including socio-economic discrimination). The equality agenda can be made a matter of importance for government.

Irish people in the two states who suffer discrimination in such areas as housing, health, education, employment and social services are entitled to redress and justice. These vital issues are given a platform by the all-Ireland Consultative Forum. The Forum has an essential role in advising the all-Ireland Ministerial Council on the implementation of an All Ireland anti poverty and social inclusion strategy.

Within a Justiciable Charter of Human Right to Equality

The All Ireland Charter of Human Rights to be drawn up by the two Human Rights Commissions, North and South, can enhance the equality agenda. Ministers on an all-Ireland basis would be required to work in accordance with the GFA to a Charter of Human Rights for the whole of the island. This could be made a dynamic and essential function of government.

Sinn Féin believes the all-Ireland Human Rights Charter should assert, as in South Africa, comprehensive social, economic, political, civic and cultural rights. Dynamic human rights provisions are aides to developing sound public policy. They also act as regulative points of reference to ensure Government initiate the legislative and other measures required to meet its responsibilities.

This template of a Human Rights framework must be enforceable and apply to the entire island. It should provide the means through which the deprived and socially excluded may assert, attain and protect their human rights.

This is central to achieving justice and equality in a New Ireland.

Strengthening and developing such all Ireland institutions is of critical importance to the emergence of a united island of equals. Moreover, organising in pursuit of this core objective has the potential to build the broad based support in the 32 counties necessary for the realization of other aspects of the all Ireland agenda.

With Economic, Political and Social Gain

All-Ireland implementation bodies, and areas of co-operation, potentially provide fora in which to reassess and develop nationaleconomic resources, which have been neglected or stunted by partition. The related issues of corruption and the influence of private enterprise will also be more readily scrutinized.

Economic, political and social reconfiguration on an all-Ireland basis holds out the prospect of substantial opportunities in the fields of agriculture, marine tourism (with navigable waterways across Ireland), alternative energy sources of production, in shore and off shore fishing and fish farming. Also promising, given recent trends, is the continued growth of the Information and Communications Technology sector with massive potential for all-Ireland trading and exports. These examples are indicative of what might be achieved by greater levels of departmental integration than currently conceived.

A pre-requisite of developing these resources is the involvement of the resident communities in the decision-making processes affecting their welfare. It is also desirable to subsequently ensure the highest level of community level management commensurate with the efficient development of local enterprise. Social economy schemes, essential to the mobilization of human resources, are the key to long-term economic gain. They also bring major social advances through the empowerment of communities and provide meaningful responses to the needs of disadvantaged rural and urban areas.

The scope of the funding available through PEACE 2, INTERREG III, LEADER+, URBAN II, EQUAL, and the extraordinary failures in many instances to draw down all the funds available, highlights the legacy of wasted opportunities. There is an urgent need to address the administering body, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), and, above all, a need to create a new agency dedicated to the development of social economy proposals, especially in disadvantaged communities. The economic gain envisaged goes hand in hand with the social community gain, addressing poverty through participative democratic community enterprise. This strategy, rather than traditional aid packages, is deemed the most efficient and realistic means of addressing poverty and social exclusion.

Cost saving in Centralised Administration

Developments of the scale envisaged, and outlined here, require adequate infrastructure. This applies not only to health and education provision, but also in transport communications and services (especially roads and railways). The delivery of such strategic services, as proposed in the remits for implementation bodies, clearly proffers savings in the prohibitive and unnecessary cost of administering two separate regions. An integrated all-island administration must be more efficient on a day-to-day basis and as a draw to inward investment.

One Consultative Negotiating body with EU

The development of all Ireland areas of cooperation and Implementation bodies could maximizes the political strength of a 32 county negotiating body at the EU level. The island of Ireland has always comprised a natural unit within the European sphere and, owing to size, geographic location and "linguistic" factors, retains its character as a single regional entity. But this is subjected to artificial divisions. It is logical that the revision of all-Ireland administrative relations under the institutions of the GFA should requires the jettisoning of arrangements whereby Six County issues were negotiated by a London government influenced by its own national and international concerns. It is a marked political advantage that the team, which must negotiate derogations and obligations in the EU, has all-Ireland competency. Moreover, the May 2004 accession of new member states opens up quite new opportunities and dangers. The interests of all Ireland lie clearly in our capacity to forge independent alliances with other small nations and regions.

Agriculture is a prime example of a sector where Ireland's collective EU contribution warrants a single policy and its effective articulation in Brussels. There are, of course, many other important issues, such as Food Safety. Pressing concerns include the importation of Genetically Modified seeds and hormone treated animals. These controversies, coupled with environmental, human and animal health concerns surrounding the incineration of waste, will certainly affect both jurisdictions in the near future.

All Sinn Féin proposals for AIMC Areas of Co-operation and Implementation bodies address economic gain to communities and social gain through the development of the type of social economic enterprise favoured by the SEUPB. This has major ramifications for obtaining funding. Sinn Féin's proposals also entail political gain through monitoring, advisory, consultative bodies, which are inclusive and participative in nature. These can consult the views of relevant communities and sectors, and represent Irish interests in the EU where encroachments on sovereignty and independence have become the norm. Without such bodies we can expect the most onerous encroachments to continue to the detriment of our economic, political and ultimately social interests.

Summary

Sinn Féin's Proposals for All Ireland Expansion

Sinn Féin proposes the expansion of the all-Ireland institutions and agencies. We have produced a series of specific proposals.

Our proposals lie within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Strand Two arrangements state that the AIMC will undertake a work programme 'covering at least 12 subject areas', and the Council will identify and agree 'at least 6 matters [each] for co-operation and implementation'. The use of the phrase 'at least' in both cases clearly allows for the type of expansion envisaged by Sinn Féin and which can be actioned in Institutional Format meetings.

Sinn Féin's proposals are also consistent with the terms of the Common Chapter. The Common Chapter text is common to both Community Support Frameworks -the National Development Plan 2000-2006 (26 Counties) and the Structural Fund Plan 2000-2006 (Six Counties). It states that all-Ireland co-operation should be a strategic priority, and more operational than was the case in the 1994-2000 Frameworks. The All Ireland Ministerial Council, and the areas of co-operation and implementation bodies, therefore, provides a strategic focus for taking forward implementation of the Common Chapter.

Sinn Féin proposes:

Cross Cutting Policy Development:

The areas addressed by the AIMC should not operate in isolation. Rather, they are sufficiently broad and should emphasize the capacity for an interdependent, mutually reinforcing workload. To that end, Sinn Féin seeks to maximise the potential of the AIMC and calls for the introduction of crosscutting policy development. The GFA allows for this development through the use of the AIMC in its institutional format. (Appendix 3)

The AIMC should take on a proactive role in developing and implementing policies that seek to eliminate poverty and social exclusion across Ireland. The working of the AIMC should be broadened to address equality issues in all areas of policy development.

Expanding the Remit of Existing Areas of Cooperation

The remits of the six areas of co-operation should be expanded to ensure that they are capable of delivering the services and projects identified on an all-Ireland basis.

In many areas informal cross border co-operation has developed between agencies and institutions in the North and South. These informal contacts need strengthened and supported by being made a formal part of the area of co-operation. In other areas the need for Ministers and their departments to co-operate on an all Ireland basis has grown urgent, especially in relation to protecting Ireland's interests in EU negotiations.

EXPAND THE REMITS OF THE AIMC AREAS OF CO-OPERATION IN:

Health,

Agriculture,

Transport,

Education,

Tourism, and

Environment.

NEW AREAS OF CO-OPERATION

Sinn Fein also calls for 4 new Areas of Co-operation to be formally instituted:

Community Development,

Art and Heritage,

Economic Co-operation, and

Public Investment.

Expansion of Existing Implementation Bodies:

The All-Ireland Implementation bodies should become more dynamic - with work programmes/agendas that complement an expanded remit of All-Ireland Ministerial Council. The current restricted briefs of the six implementation-bodies should be expanded.

New Implementation Bodies

All-island structures for delivery of service represent more efficient and less costly mechanisms of service provision. There should be a number of new Implementation Bodies established in the following fields:

Justice,

Policing,

The Social Economy,

Energy,

Mental Health

Rural Development,

Pollution Control

Further and Higher Education; and

Telecommunications.

REUNIFICATION THROUGH PLANNED INTEGRATION -

DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF CROSS BORDER CORRIDOR GROUPS

We call for the delivery of time bound commitments made under the 'Common Chapter' to be delivered. The border negatively impacts on the life chances and business opportunities of those communities that live adjacent to it. The Border has been independently recognized as an impediment to social and economic progress in that region. Dislocated and insular regional development in the border will not work. Only co-ordinated integration that creates common systems, shared infrastructure and services will deliver the balanced development needed for the people that live within the Border Corridor. As such the most appropriate frameworks for regional development must be inclusive and integrated - including all stakeholders and encompassing all the counties of the Border Corridor. Sinn Féin wants to see the inclusive development of Integrated Area Plans along the border corridor tying in regional administrations, all-Ireland structures, appropriate funds and local networks. The potential of the Cross-Border Corridor Groups (CBCGs) should be developed. Until very recently they have had little focus or incentive, but their role, powers and relations have become integral to the process of delivery, decision-making and administration of INTERREG IIIa. - Sinn Féin will contribute to this development

Conclusion

The adverse affects of partition and of inequality and conflict on Irish social, political and economic life are well documented. The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) holds the potential to re-define our political institutions and political environment. [This explains the resistance to its implementation.] A central plank of this project is the development of All-Ireland political institutions and activity. Arrangements for this have been identified and endorsed by all parties to the GFA including the Irish and British Governments. The Irish people in two referenda have endorsed All-Ireland political development. The electoral growth of Sinn Féin is further evidence of a profound desire for significant change in Irish society.

Strand Two of the GFA sets out the political infrastructure to deliver integrated all Ireland political, economic, social, civic and inter-cultural institutions. These institutions must be developed to maximise the all Ireland dynamic towards a new Ireland of equality.

The GFA envisages the strengthening of All Ireland political activity (Strand Two, Paras 8-9). This ambition is echoed in the Common Chapter (National Development Plan 2000-06, Structural Fund Plan 2000-06).

To date, the experience of the workings of All Ireland structures has been positive. Representatives from all political perspectives involved have acknowledged the benefits of an integrated island wide approach. The latent potential and pressing need for further development has been acknowledged by the All-Ireland Ministerial Council and by other stakeholders in society, including the agricultural, educational and business sectors. There is a growing consciousness that the well-being, in some cases the survival, of specific sectors will hinge on delivery on an All Ireland basis.

The maintenance of segregated systems on the island has been shown to be economically inefficient. Key areas of social provision - such as health, transport and education - are inadequately administered by two stressed systems, which have failed the population. Such critical sectors as agriculture and social economy are also mismanaged by parallel strategies that complicate, if not hinder, developmental opportunities on the island as a whole. The duplication of process and the many gaps in effort resulting from this modus operandi are neither economically nor socially beneficial.

It is in this context that Sinn Féin sets out our proposals for the consolidation and expansion of All-Ireland activity. They are realistic, deliverable and can bring tangible benefits to people of all political persuasions.

Sinn Féin's key proposals may be summarised as follows: -

A judiciable All-Ireland Human Rights Charter must be developed for the thirty-two counties, which regulates All Ireland government to uphold and implement human rights.

The institutional arrangements agreed under the GFA must be fully implemented. The All Ireland Parliamentary and All Ireland Consultative Civic Forums should be convened without further delay.

Once established, the remit of the All-Ireland Civic Consultative Forum, which must genuinely reflects grass roots organisation throughout civic society, must have a dynamic partnership input, to scrutinise and propose policy development in the All Ireland Ministerial Council.

The scope and remit of Implementation Bodies should be expanded.

Current Areas of Cooperation and Implementation Bodies must be built upon, their remits expanded and new areas of co-operation and further Implementation bodies created.

All-Ireland activity of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council must be supplemented by the creation of areas for crosscutting policy development.

As a start to this process, Sinn Féin proposes the development of an Integrated Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy.

New All-Ireland structures must be developed as a matter of urgency in the areas of Policing, Justice, Energy and the Social economy (Social Economy Agency and Forum).

The Cross Border Corridor Groups (CBCGs) must be developed to deliver an integrative Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy. Addressing the historic human and spatial inequalities of the communities that live in the hinterland and municipalities along the line of partition.

The GFA and the new political dispensation in Ireland provide a potential framework to address the needs of people in real and measurable ways. The all-Ireland institutions offer immense opportunities to develop island wide politics capable of delivering on the 'bread and butter' issues within the overall aim of progressing an Ireland of Equals, based on social inclusion and a human rights agenda. With the conviction that underpins our Party to promote frameworks and otherwise advocate a united Ireland of Equals, Sinn Féin will not allow that opportunity to be squandered. We will channel the collective energies of our non-elected and elected activists to ensure that reintegration and reunification is an actionable reality.

Background to All Ireland Institutions - The Provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and current status

The GFA stipulates that the All Ireland Ministerial Council (AIMC) will bring together those with executive responsibilities in the Assembly and in Leinster House to develop consultation, co-operation and action within Ireland, including through implementation on an all-Ireland and "cross-border" basis.

The Agreement provided that at least 12 subject areas would be identified for "co-operation" and implementation under the aegis of the Council. In the case of "at least" six areas, "co-operation" would be taken forward by existing bodies in the 6 and 26 counties separately; and in the case of "at least" six others areas, new All Ireland Implementation Bodies would be established to enable joint implementation of decisions.

Strand Two of the Agreement deals with the "North-South" relationship and the institutions developed should give tangible expression to all-Ireland politics and policy development. The arrangements agreed include : -

The establishment of a North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC), or All-Ireland Ministerial Council (AIMC) to bring together ministers from the 6 and 26 develop consultation, co-operation and action within Ireland.

The Six "areas of co-operation" identified were Health, Education, Transport, Tourism, Environment and Agriculture.

The Six Implementation Bodies established and legally constituted to ensure responsibilities stated within tightly defined remits were: The Language Body, incorporating Foras na Gaeilge (promotion of Irish) and the Ulster Scots Agency; Food Safety Promotion Board; Intertrade Ireland; Foyle & Carlingford, Irish Lights Commission; Special EU Programmes Board (SEUPB) and Waterways Ireland.

Sinn Féin believes that the potential for all-Ireland co-operation, moving into the integration of services, far exceeds the subjects covered in the current remit of the 12 areas being dealt with by the AIMC.

Current Status

Identification of Additional Areas:

At the first and only meeting of the Council in institutional format - where additional areas can be identified and where cross cutting policy can be developed - the AIMC identified several additional areas. These were:

Energy;

Strategic Investment/Infrastructure Issues;

Higher & Further Education;

Agriculture;

Irish Medium Education;

Education and Youth;

Health (Addition to Existing Areas) and

Sport and Recreations.

At the AIMC Plenary Meeting of June 28th 2002 a Working Group identified the following areas for possible future formal co-operation:

Energy: There is already a high degree of co-operation outside formal AIMC structures taking forward projects such as the electricity interconnector and the gas interconnection. Current levels of funding in the gas sector combined with activity on the creation of an all-Ireland energy market and regular meetings between the two energy regulators lead to general agreement that this functional area should be brought within any revised arrangements. (Appendix 6 outlines Sinn Féin's proposals for an All Ireland Energy Implementation Body, which would achieve lower energy costs in the context of an all Ireland energy market).

There is already a high degree of co-operation outside formal AIMC structures taking forward projects such as the electricity interconnector and the gas interconnection. Current levels of funding in the gas sector combined with activity on the creation of an all-Ireland energy market and regular meetings between the two energy regulators lead to general agreement that this functional area should be brought within any revised arrangements. (Appendix 6 outlines Sinn Féin's proposals for an All Ireland Energy Implementation Body, which would achieve lower energy costs in the context of an all Ireland energy market).

Strategic Investment/Infrastructure issues: A view emerged that in the context of possible synergies between the Strategic Investment Body (in the 6 counties) and the National Development Finance Agency (in the 26 counties), there is merit in having co-operation on strategic investment/infrastructure, thus the Body and the Agency should be established as an area of co-operation within the AIMC. Consideration is being given to replacing the Transport sector with a wider area of co-operation such as investment/infrastructure, which could include strategic transport issues.

A view emerged that in the context of possible synergies between the Strategic Investment Body (in the 6 counties) and the National Development Finance Agency (in the 26 counties), there is merit in having co-operation on strategic investment/infrastructure, thus the Body and the Agency should be established as an area of co-operation within the AIMC. Consideration is being given to replacing the Transport sector with a wider area of co-operation such as investment/infrastructure, which could include strategic transport issues.

Sinn Féin welcome initiatives that address Ireland's infrastructural investment deficit and if an all Ireland Investment Body was to be established it must contain clear links to the democratic process with accountability and full scrutiny central. It is SF's views that the SIB and NDFA as currently defined are dangerous vehicles for replicating and reinforcing patterns of divisions and discrimination witnessed under British Direct Rule and 26 county government administrations. The SIB and NDFA do not deliver best practices nor do they target social need. They are heavily weighted in favour of big business that potentially stand to make millions out of the functions of the SIB and NDFA. The legislation to establish the SIB was pulled on the last sitting day of the Assembly by Mark Durkan and David Trimble - before suspension number 4 - because of its likely defeat. Sinn Féin does not support the proposed merger of the SIB and NDFA.

Higher and Further Education: It was proposed that H&FE should be brought within the ambit of the AIMC as first class research and development will become a critical element of the strategic infrastructure;

It was proposed that H&FE should be brought within the ambit of the AIMC as first class research and development will become a critical element of the strategic infrastructure;

Agriculture: Organic farming and expanding contact between training colleges and the interaction between legal services divisions was presented as reasons for extending the remit of the area of co-operation covering Agriculture to deal with these areas.

Organic farming and expanding contact between training colleges and the interaction between legal services divisions was presented as reasons for extending the remit of the area of co-operation covering Agriculture to deal with these areas.

Irish Medium Education: There is rapid growth with more children now being educated through the medium of Irish outside the traditional Irish-speaking or Gaeltacht areas than within them, hence there is a clear case for including this as area for co-operation.

There is rapid growth with more children now being educated through the medium of Irish outside the traditional Irish-speaking or Gaeltacht areas than within them, hence there is a clear case for including this as area for co-operation.

Education and Youth: The Working Group proposed that education and youth should be included to foster links between students, student teachers and young people.

: The Working Group proposed that education and youth should be included to foster links between students, student teachers and young people.

Mutual recognition of qualifications and standards - self-explanatory;

self-explanatory;

Health: Work is continuing between both Departments towards developing proposals for co-operation on Mental Health and on postgraduate education in the medical and dental fields.

: Work is continuing between both Departments towards developing proposals for co-operation on Mental Health and on postgraduate education in the medical and dental fields.

Sport and Recreations: Both Administrations are interested in exploring the question of the incorporation of co-operation on S&R into the AIMC.

Both Administrations are interested in exploring the question of the incorporation of co-operation on S&R into the AIMC

Joint Parliamentary Forum: Strand 2 paragraph 18 of the GFA states that the Assembly and the Oireachtas should consider a joint parliamentary forum, bringing together equal numbers from both institutions for discussion of matters of "mutual interest" and concern.

: Strand 2 paragraph 18 of the GFA states that the Assembly and the Oireachtas should consider a joint parliamentary forum, bringing together equal numbers from both institutions for discussion of matters of "mutual interest" and concern.

Current Status

At the Plenary meeting in Armagh on June 28 2002, the AIMC agreed that any development of a joint parliamentary forum is a matter for the Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas and that officials from the two Administrations should make contact with officials in the elected institutions and report to the next plenary meeting.

Joint Committee of reps of the two HR Commissions:

:

Strand 3 of the GFA, paragraph 10, states that there would be a joint committee of representatives of the two HR bodies from the Six and Twenty-Six County States as a forum for consideration of human rights issues on an all Ireland basis.

Current Status

A Joint independent Committee has been established. It has held a number of meetings and is dealing with issues such as examining various policies, Human Right legislation and Bills dealing with Rights' issues. Apparently this is being done in order to establish Best Practice and uphold International Standards. The Joint Committee intends to put forward an all Ireland Charter on Human Rights. -

An All Ireland Charter of Human Rights assumes a particular importance in the light of a comparison with, for example, the key role of the Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution. It also takes on importance in the light of current discussion around the changes needed in the Constitution of the 26 Counties, and the changes which 26 County Ireland will be expected to make to meet an EU Constitution, which is currently under negotiation.

Furthermore an All-Ireland Charter of Human Rights, legally binding on 32 county institutions, puts Human Rights and social-economic equality (anti-poverty/social inclusion) centre stage in all deliberations on policy and its implementation across the 32 Counties. The provision of a Human Rights Charter, regulating all Ireland government, represents an innovative and radical departure beyond the existing approach to government institutions.

All Ireland Independent Consultative Forum:

:

Strand 2 of the GFA, paragraph 19, states that consideration be given to the establishment of an independent Consultative Civic Forum appointed by the two Administrations, representative of civil society, comprising the social partners and other members with expertise in social, cultural, economic and other fields.

An All Ireland Consultative Civic Forum is of central importance to advancing the All-Ireland Agenda around equality. It encompasses the extension to all 32 counties of the Twenty-six County participative-partnership in social economic planning, which was originally intended to address issues of equality and socio-economic disadvantage. The dismal failures of the social partnership in the South in the negotiated 'deals' which have emerged, (most recently in the 'Sustaining Progress'), to concretely address inequality, should not discourage us from a key project - to reconstitute this important experiment in participative democracy, on an All-Ireland basis, and to enable the social partners, (community, trade union, farmers and business) to participate in decisions concerning the distribution of the GNP. The consultative forum would have the power to both scrutinise and propose legislation and its implementation.

Current Status

At the Plenary meeting of the AIMC in Dublin on 26 Sept 2000, the Council agreed that a Working Group of officials from both Administrations and the Joint Secretariat would be established to take forward a study and report to the next plenary.

At the Institutional format meeting, Dec 17th 2001, it was agreed that the Independent Consultative Forum should be based on a formal interaction between structures representative of civil society. The Working Groups should consult with the Civil Forum in the six counties and the social partners participating in the Central Review Mechanism of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The Working Group concluded that, given the already developing informal contacts between the Civic Forum and the social partners in the south, structures representative of civil society should interact formally through arrangements which would draw membership from the existing bodies. This would mean the Civic Forum and the social partners establishing a framework capable of offering advice to both Administrations and the AIMC on matters, which had an all-Ireland or a cross-border dimension.

Developing the cross-cutting areas of policy development for the All-Ireland Ministerial Council in partnership with the All-Ireland Civic Forum:

:

Sinn Féin recognises that the remit of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council is circumspect; however taken in totality; the All-Ireland Ministerial Council and the All-Ireland Implementation Bodies do represent a tangible step forward towards All-Ireland institutional harmonisation. Developing the working dynamic of the all-Ireland Ministerial Council to the maximum beyond what might be construed as the norm is critical for creating the functional impetus for further expansion. To do this we need to examine crosscutting social, economic, environmental and cultural issues.

The areas of co-operation of the AIMC are defined with reference to particular departmental sectoral interests: health, education, tourism, etc. However it is clear that each area cannot be considered in isolation from other areas. For example many issues that relate to the respective remits of Agricultural departments in fact impact on the Environment, Transport, Health, Tourism and Education. No one aspect can be considered in isolation from that of the others. All issues must be considered in a holistic way, or as 'cross cutting' policy areas.

This fact lends a dynamic for the AIMC to progress from Ministers of departments co-operating together on specific areas of interest, to develop into an integrated (All Ireland) Ministerial Council determining policy and its implementation. This drives the development of a 32 county Ireland one-step further forward.

Sinn Féin will work to ensure that these steps are governed by our strategic aim - which is to advance not just All Ireland governance, but an all-Ireland of Equals.

Poverty and Social Exclusion is one such area that cuts across departmental issues. These issues are pervasive and complex crosscutting problems that need to be addressed in all sections of public/social/economic policy and as previously stated the AIMC has a remit to pursue crosscutting development. In this regard the All-Ireland Ministerial Council has a clear and important role to play in the elimination of poverty and social exclusion within its present areas of competence.

Poverty and Social Exclusion impact on the All-Ireland Ministerial Council areas of competence in very specific ways. Therefore the All-Ireland Ministerial Council has a moral and functional imperative to develop policy for the elimination of poverty and social exclusion within and between each area of competence as a priority. In particular:

The AIMC needs to develop an All-Ireland Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy with specific implications for its existing areas of competence.

Each area of competence should develop its own anti-poverty and social inclusion strategy.

Each sectoral strategy and the overall strategy should be poverty proofed using human rights based approaches.

The strategies should incorporate were appropriate inter-related processes and these processes should be facilitated by the formation of an interdepartmental working group drawn from the joint secretariat.

Each Strategy should be underpinned by a relative human rights core obligation.

The obligations that regulate and inform the strategies of each should form a human rights charter for the AIMC.

The Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy and the human rights charter adopted should be developed in meaningful consultation and, in genuine partnership with, an All-Ireland Consultative Forum (which would contain representatives of key social partners - specifically those with an anti-Poverty remit).

The AIMC should be allocated sufficient funds to ensure the meaningful delivery of these strategies and their impact both north and south.

The regional anti-poverty and social inclusion strategies adopted by all Departments and Programmes on the island (NAPS/NTSN) should be complementary to those adopted by the AIMC.