asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he received a request from the Committee on Cross-Border Development comprised of representatives of local authorities in Counties Cavan, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Monaghan and Tyrone that the Government, the United Kingdom and the EEC carry out a study to determine the agricultural and tourist potential of the Erne catchment area and the best means for exploiting its natural resources; and the action, if any, that has been taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Development.
30.
A resolution requesting a joint study of the agricultural and tourist potential of the Erne catchment area has been communicated to the Minister and also, he understands, to the British Government, by the local authorities in the area concerned. The question was one of a number of aspects of economic co-operation discussed with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Mason, during his recent visit to Dublin. Following that meeting, discussions have begun with officials in Northern Ireland and the Minister is hopeful that rapid progress can be made towards a joint submission by the two Governments to the EEC on a study of the area.
The Parliamentary Secretary knows that the local authorities in question seem to be moving with a degree of urgency and confidence that is not evident from the Governments concerned. In view of that, will the Parliamentary Secretary assure the House that the Government will at least support the urgency which is now being demonstrated by the local authorities on both sides of the Border?
I do not accept that the Government do not have a sense of urgency about this. I have explained to the Deputy on several occasions and I am sure the Minister has too, what exactly is at stake here and what are the things that prevent more rapid progress being made, but in regard to the requests from the authorities concerned, I think the first of them was received on 11th October last and the other ones were all subsequent to that. The matter was raised with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during his visit some weeks ago to Dublin, and if the matter has already been taken up at official level, I would not consider that bad going by any standards.
The Parliamentary Secretary will be aware that the local authorities concerned have been discussing this matter for some considerable time. The fact that they made formal proposals only in October does not excuse the Governments from taking action in advance of those formal proposals. I am simply asking the Parliamentary Secretary now to convey to the House that there will be a more urgent reaction from the Government than there has been hitherto.
I can tell the House the Government are giving this matter the same high priority as Deputy O'Kennedy gives it, and I gladly acknowledge that these local authorities all seem to give it the same high priority on both sides of the Border.