Our role

The committee plays a pivotal role in informing debate on key areas of mutual interest regarding North-South co-operation. It includes Members of the Oireachtas and MPs from Northern Ireland, and offers an opportunity to foster better links and dialogue between parliamentarians from both sides of the Border.
The committee works across a number of key areas including:

• Reconciliation issues such as listening to key people and groups regarding legacy issues and reaching out to diverse communities
• Commemoration issues including consideration of significant anniversaries arising over the next decade
• North-South co-operation across sectoral areas such as health, transport, education, agriculture, tourism and culture, with particular reference to the potential impact of Brexit
• Funding programmes, with a particular reference to future funding of peace related programmes

The committee engages in informal meetings and outreach visits to Northern Ireland to help build relationships and encourage a shared understanding of all the communities and key stakeholders on both sides of the Border. It plays an important role in informing debate on key areas of mutual interest such as North-South economic co-operation, particularly in areas of tourism, transport and communications infrastructure and agriculture; reconciliation and combating sectarianism; cross-Border co-operation in policing; and Ireland-UK relations.

As part of its remit, the committee may invite presentations from Government Ministers, State organisations from North and South, representative groups and interested individuals to hear their views and perspectives on the Good Friday Agreement and cross-Border co-operation.

Read the Dáil motion and Seanad motion to establish the committee.