The Government is determined the North/South Ministerial Council will become a "hugely important" institution, according to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
During statements on the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, she said this week's momentous events would have a profound effect on political life not only in the North, but throughout Ireland.
Ms O'Donnell said she and the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, were to represent the Government at a "shadow" meeting last night of the North/South Ministerial Council, which was expected to be technical and low key.
The council would oversee the work of the six implementation bodies to be set up today. They would be effective and meaningful executive agencies, with an all-island or cross-Border remit. The council's own remit would be much wider and would consider all matters of mutual interest. Six had been chosen for priority treatment, including transport, agriculture, environment, health, education and tourism.
The Minister said "none of this is in any way threatening. Analysis and consultation must by definition proceed on a joint basis."
She said there had been substantial progress in the past decade in co-operation between North and South. "Once upon a time our public service was accused of a kind of closet partitionism. If this was ever true, it no longer is: the co-operation offered by all departments has been, and continues to be, remarkable."
Praising those involved in building the agreement, Ms O'Donnell spoke of the "sustained vision" of John Hume. "I know that without Seamus Mallon's unswerving commitment to seeing the agreement he worked so hard to bring about fully implemented, we would not be making such progress this week. David Trimble has also proved himself a courageous leader of his people. He has taken considerable personal and political risks, we owe him a great deal.
"The leaders of the republican community, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, have also stretched their community. I am very pleased to see two Sinn Fein Ministers ready to take their place in the new institutions being created this week."
Ms O'Donnell said "we could not have made it to this point without the relentless commitment, optimism and persistence of Senator George Mitchell".
Mr Caoimhgin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said Sinn Fein had entered the new executive "in a spirit of partnership, extending the hand of friendship to our unionist neighbours".
Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) said the huge "leap of faith" by the Ulster Unionist leader and his party had more than anything else caused the historic political advance of the last few days.
By keeping decommissioning on the agenda Mr Trimble had done a great service for all constitutional democrats.
He welcomed the imminent appointment of an IRA liaison officer to the Independent Commission on Decommissioning and hoped the UDA would rethink its own reservations.
Ms Cecilia Keaveney (FF, Donegal, North-East) said serious and important issues remained to be resolved and a true sense of safety and security, "that sense of ordinariness", was still as far away as ever. "That challenge still remains and the legacy of many past actions will take time to heal and move on."
Mr Brendan Smith (FF, Cavan/Monaghan) said areas on both sides of the Border such as Cavan and Fermanagh, shared many similar problems. "However, it is only now that people will be able to talk to one another and to work together. Common approaches to common problems signify real unity."
