THE GOVERNMENT was “fully supportive” of a reduction in Northern Ireland’s rate of corporation tax, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
He was speaking to reporters at Farmleigh yesterday after the first meeting of the Dublin and Belfast administrations under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council since the two general elections on the island.
“We had quite a discussion about this at the meeting. Obviously it is a matter for the Executive, the First and Second Minister and the British government.
“We in Government here would be very supportive of a reduction in the corporation tax rate, equivalent to our own, in Northern Ireland,” Mr Kenny said.
The North’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said: “We are very grateful for the support that we are receiving from Ministers here in Dublin for that.”
On the Smithwick Tribunal, Mr Kenny said the Government had “absolutely no intention whatsoever of interfering in any way” with its work.
A closing date for the tribunal had been “targeted” but Mr Kenny added that, if this target could not be met, the Dáil would give due consideration to an application for an extension.
Questioned on the presence of controversial Sinn Féin special adviser Mary McArdle at the council meeting, First Minister Peter Robinson said he had asked Finance Minister Sammy Wilson to review the issue of advisers.
Mr Kenny said: “The tone of the meeting was very engaging, very warm.
“Ministers [from Dublin] have agreed to exchange numbers and make regular contact with their opposite members of the Executive,” he added.
The next plenary session would be in November, at a location to be determined by Mr Robinson.
“We have agreed that the €11 million outstanding in respect of the ongoing development in respect of the A5/A8 (road project) will be paid by the Minister for Transport and is currently in his budget,” Mr Kenny said.
Mr Robinson complimented the Taoiseach on the manner in which he had hosted the occasion. “We had our own conversations in the margins of the meeting. I am very encouraged by his style.
“I like the idea, if there are problems, of not having to wait till there is a formal meeting to deal with it but that we can [make] contact, Minister to Minister, to deal with these issues as they might arise,” he added
Mr Robinson welcomed the co-operation on the construction of the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital and that the A5/A8 road project would still proceed.
Mr McGuinness said: “These now are very thorough engagements with people, not basically talking from a script, but dealing with issues which are of major importance to all of the people who live on this island.”
The Taoiseach and the two northern Ministers had left the meeting earlier to pay special tribute to the late Brian Lenihan, former minister for finance.
“Brian was a friend and I think it says much of him, his character as an individual, that all of us who knew him considered him to be so,” Mr Robinson said.
Mr McGuinness said: “We’re not just losing a very experienced politician, someone who made a massive contribution to life on this island but we have also lost a very dear friend.”
“Brian Lenihan was exemplary in the carrying out of his public duties,” Mr Kenny said. “I would like to say that I have known Brian Lenihan for many years. I regarded him as a friend in politics.”
