Ministerial Council Summit Welcomes Cowen

The embattled Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to lead the Irish government delegation at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh today.

He will travel north to a meeting hosted by the NI First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness (pictured) at which the main topic being discussed will be the economic challenges being faced north and south of the border.

The meeting will be held in the new headquarters of the joint secretariat to the council in Armagh.

Mr Cowen will welcome the change of subject as there were chaotic scenes on Thursday in the Dáil after multiple Ministerial resignations threatened his government and led to Mr Cowen's announcement that he intended to dissolve the Irish parliament and call a general election on 11 March.

He had only just survived a confidence vote from Finna Fail the dy before over his leadership abilities.

The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was established under the Good Friday Agreement.

It comprises ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish government, working together on matters of mutual interest.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, the Taoiseach said: "Today's meeting is a crucial discussion of important economic issues that affect the daily lives of everyone on the island of Ireland.

"Now, more than ever, we are committed to work together for economic recovery and a brighter future on this island.

"I have been honoured to be able to participate in all 11 plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) which have taken place since the Good Friday Agreement.

"The opening of the NSMC Joint Secretariat offices in Armagh is another significant event which reflects the enormous and historic transformation in the politics of this island in recent years," he said, welcoming a change of direction taking him away from the beleaguered Dáil.

The main topic for discussion at the meeting will be the economic challenges which continue to face both parts of the island.

An official Department of the Taoiseach related this morning that the new Armagh headquarters will be officially opened by the Taoiseach, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

"The main topic for discussion at the meeting will be the economic challenges which continue to face both parts of the island.

"There will be a discussion of actions which are being taken by each administration to help bring about economic recovery and how best both can co-operate in those efforts," said the statement.

Education Debated

This afternoon, more detail emerged with Northern Ireland's Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, attending the North South Ministerial Council in its Education Sectoral Format in Armagh.

Mary Coughlan, the Irish Republic's Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science, chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Danny Kennedy, the Stormont Minister for Employment and Learning.

Minister Ruane said afterwards: "Co-operation with our education counterparts in the south of Ireland through the Council is a central tenet of the Good Friday Agreement and is vital in examining the common issues that affect the island as a whole.

"The Council continues to make good progress in key areas, including tackling underachievement and promoting teacher education.

"Raising literacy and numeracy levels remains a priority, as shown by the performance of students from the north compared to other European countries in the recent PISA assessment.

"Initiatives such as Children's Book Week held in October and a North-South conference on literacy to be held next month are helping address this in a collaborative way," she said, noting that the Council also discussed provision for children with special educational needs and a joint commitment to the Middletown Centre for Autism.

In another North-South political development, the Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has today formally resigned from his Westminster seat in West Belfast.

Mr Adams is now to contest the 11 March general election in the Irish Republic for his party in the republican heartland of Co Louth.

He had already stepped down as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and at the time said he would also resign from his Westminster seat.

He was replaced at the Assembly by former IRA hunger striker Pat Sheehan with the party set to select a candidate to defend his West Belfast Westminster seat.

See: Cabinet 'Collapse In Confidence For Cowen'

(BMcC/KMcA)