Cross-Border co-operation and trade will not immediately blossom arising from the present negotiations at Stormont, but the mechanisms and procedures designed to encourage such a development have already been agreed.
Three months ago, the Minister for Foreign Affairs brought legislation to the Dail giving statutory effect to an agreement reached between the Northern parties and the two governments on the areas of competence to be devolved and the structures to be employed. But until power is formally transferred to the Northern Ireland Assembly, North-South institutions will remain mothballed.
Of course, planning can take place. And shadow ministers may review their responsibilities and decide on their priorities. But the actual Implementation Bodies and the various co-operative structures will not be established. And funding will be frozen.
The best estimate of the governments is that it will cost about £56 million in annual expenditure to operate the stand-alone and jointly-funded Implementation Bodies, with a total staff of 880. The extra cost to the Exchequer for its administrative input will be about £5 million this year and some £20 million in two years' time.
Bertie Ahern spoke of the changes as representing a major undertaking and a re-orientation of the Irish administrative system "in a way that has not happened since the foundation of the State".
The Taoiseach was convinced the arrangements would make good, practical sense for all the people on this island. "Up to now," he told the Dail, "opportunities for co-operation were available mainly in a non-structured, ad-hoc way and while many organisations, like CBI and IBEC, have long pioneered North-South economic co-operation, the new Implementation Bodies provide opportunities to bring the work for our mutual advantage to another plane."
Cross-Border trade remained well below the levels that were typical of neighbouring economies or regions, Mr Ahern said, and he wanted to break down the barriers to effective co-operation.
A North South Ministerial Council would be the driving force behind change. But, until power is formally transferred to the Northern Assembly and Executive, nominated ministers would be able to engage only in preliminary planning.
Six Implementation Bodies will report to the council. All of them will have chief executives and four will have boards. They will deal with Food Safety; Trade and Business Development; Language; Waterways Ireland; Special EU Programmes and Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.
Agreement was also reached that specified aspects of transport, agriculture, education, health, environment and tourism would provide suitable areas for co-operation. And the North-South Ministerial Council may, by agreement, extend such co-operation to other matters. Relevant Government departments are currently working on details of these arrangements.
According to the Belfast Agreement, the Implementation Bodies will have a clear operational remit and implement, "on an all-island and cross-community basis", policies agreed by the council.
The chain of responsibility will lead from the council back to the Northern Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Any disagreement over the interpretation and application of legislation dealing with the bodies will be referred to the two attorneys general for resolution.
Establishment of a North-South Ministerial Council, even in shadow form, has brought a key political objective of republicans much closer to realisation.
Many decisions remain to be taken, such as where the various Implementation Bodies will be established and whether Armagh will become the focal point for the North-South Ministerial Council.
In order to give the Implementation Bodies a good start, the governments have undertaken to appoint interim chief executive officers immediately after powers are devolved to the Assembly. After that, definitive appointments will be made through open competition.
In presenting the legislation to the Dail, Mr Andrews observed that the success of the exercise would depend not just on what was legally provided for, but on the energy and creativity of the boards and their staffs.
The North-South Council would, he said, "bring our two administrations together in a systematic and structured way and on a regular and frequent basis". It would oversee the Implementation Bodies but it would also allow for "the spotlight to be shone on all sectors and on all issues of mutual interest or having the potential for co-operative action." he said.