Bill allows for joint decisions

The Dáil last night passed all stages of a special technical Bill which allows the British and Irish governments to take decisions jointly about the North-South bodies, while the North's Executive and Assembly are suspended.

There are six all-Ireland bodies: the Trade and Business Development Body, the Language Body, the Special EU Programmes Body, Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board and the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.

The Taoiseach, introducing the British Irish Agreement (Amendment) Bill, said the six institutions operated across a wide range of sectors and their work should not be endangered. Mr Ahern said the Bill was being put in place only on a "temporary basis in the interests of good order and good corporate governance".

However, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said his party accepted the Bill "under strong protest". The Dáil should not have had to deal with this legislation, which was brought about by the unilateral suspension by the British government of the institutions.