The Taoiseach has welcomed the DUP decision to send a high- ranking team to a meeting of the British/Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, which meets in Killarney today, saying it was "a very important step". It is the first time political representatives of the unionist community will have presented their views to the body, which was established in 1990.
"I think this should be seen as a hugely important occasion and I think their involvement, should be seen as very significant," he said.
The body's co-chairman, Dublin North-West Fianna Fáil TD Pat Carey, said the decision of the party to send a high-profile delegation, headed by deputy leader Peter Robinson, came at an important time in the evolution of the peace process.
It is the first time since the British/Irish Inter-Parliamentay Body was established in 1990 that representatives of the unionist community will be present.
Mr Carey said that DUP delegation is expected to outline their approach to political developments in Northern Ireland in the months leading to the November 24th deadline set by both Irish and British governments for the setting-up of a fully functioning Executive and Assembly.
The high-powered DUP delegation will be led by Peter Robinson and includes three other Westminster MPs and Assembly members, Iris Robinson, Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson.
The 68-member British-Irish body will meet in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will deliver the keynote address on behalf of the Government.
Mr Carey said the body had, over the years, "provided a unique platform to parliamentarians" to explore ways of co-operation in a wide range of areas.
These included an economic and social analysis of Northern Ireland earlier this year which has prepared the ground for the wider debate on how issues of concern could be addressed on an all-island basis.
He pointed out that the body was the first to examine the issue of mobile phone roaming charges and the implementation of a road traffic penalty points regime, as well as co-operation in autism, agriculture, energy and tourism.
Mr Carey said the body had also provided a forum for the airing of - sometimes diametrically - opposing views. However,this is the first time that any unionist party has agreed to come to place its case before the body.
"I welcome the decision of the DUP to engage with their peers and lay out their stall. I have no doubt that a lively debate will develop, and I look forward to a robust and constructive exchange of views."
The inter-parliamentary body was formally established in 1990 as a link between Westminster and Dublin, with 25 British and 25 Irish members drawn from houses of both parliaments.
In recent years the membership of the body has been extended, to include representatives from the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly - when convened - and the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
