Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the first meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the procedures of the Council meetings and major issues for reconstruction.

The Prime Minister said in his address, "We have established three Reconstruction Bureaus - in Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate Prefectures respectively. There are six Branch Offices, as well as administration offices in Aomori and Ibaraki Prefectures.
There are two roles expected of the Reconstruction Agency: overcoming the barriers of vertically segmented bureaucracy and taking swift actions to respond to the requests of disaster-stricken regions in a one-stop manner. I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the Agency thoroughly fulfill these two missions and accelerate the implementation of reconstruction projects.
For this, I would like not only the Reconstruction Agency but also each of the other ministries and agencies to commit their full efforts to engage in reconstruction.
Since last year, various initiatives have been in progress, including budgetary allocations and the establishment of new schemes for reconstruction. On February 9, we approved the first Special Zone for Reconstruction. I intend to enhance these initiatives further going forward.
With regard to the reconstruction and revitalization of Fukushima from the nuclear disaster, I believe that more than anything it is crucial to promptly enact the Bill on Special Measures for Fukushima Reconstruction and Revitalization approved by the Cabinet on February 10.
Moreover, what is most important is to extend assistance for those still living away from home to return to their homes at an early stage."