"Under the [Anglo-Irish] Agreement, the Conference is the framework within which the Irish Government may, where the interests of the minority are significantly or specially affected, put forward proposals for major legislation or on major policy issues of Northern Ireland Departments and which remain the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Secretariat is the channel of communication for these views and proposals and for contact between the British and Irish Governments on other matters which fall within the scope of the Agreement. Details of the exchanges between the two Governments remain confidential."