Vol. 398 No. 1
6 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he intends to present any specific proposals for furthering the objective of economic co-operation between North and South, which he referred to during his address to the Institute of Directors Conference in Belfast on 11 April 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I will shortly be launching a study on the implications of the Single Market for economic co-operation on the island of Ireland. This study, which is largely the work of independent consultants, contains a number of specific proposals for enhanced cross-Border co-operation in various sectors.
We are also working with the Northern authorities on the preparation of a programme of cross-Border co-operation to be submitted for support from the EC Structural Funds.
Could the Taoiseach indicate the outline of the specific proposals in the study he has referred to for furthering economic co-operation?
I think the Deputy had better wait until the report is published.
Is it intended to advance the improvement of the rail link between North and South as part of the process of co-operation? Is the Taoiseach aware of the very strong criticism at Commission level at the failure of the Irish Government to have proposals submitted regarding the upgrading of the rail link on the Dublin-Belfast route?
The Deputy is raising a very specific matter.
I am so aware and I do not think it is any function of the Commission to engage in any such criticism.
Is it the Government's intention to raise the matter of the extension of the gas grid to Northern Ireland or to reopen the electricity interconnector as part of the economic link up between North and South?
At present we are concentrating on a gas interconnector to mainland Britain so that we can tap into the Community grid.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there are many people other than the Commission who are highly critical of the Government's failure to include the upgrading of the North-South railway link as part of the Structural Programme?
With regard to the study to which the Taoiseach has referred, may I ask what consultants were involved, who paid for the study, and will the Government be announcing the decisions on the study when they publish it?
I will have to get the information about the consultants for the Deputy. I may have it here in my brief, but I would like to get it for the Deputy. I am almost certain that the study would have been paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Of course, when the study is published, any follow up action will be undertaken. I have been told by my colleague the Minister for Finance that it was the Department of Finance who paid for the study.
Does he know which consultants were involved?
A number of different consultants were involved. While it may not have been the same consultants who did the studies for the New Ireland Forum, it was the same type of consultants.
I very much welcome the Taoiseach's decision to visit Belfast, following my example in 1981 when I was warmly welcomed by mayors of different political persuasions — the DUP, OUP and SDLP — on a European occasion which was boycotted by several MEPs because of the presence of Mr. Ted Health. May I encourage the Taoiseach to take any other opportunities that may arise to make similar visits in the future which might contribute constructively to the relationship between North and South?
I am very happy to accept the Deputy's suggestion.
A final question.
Am I correct in assuming that the Taoiseach has no specified proposals with regard to economic co-operation between North and South?
We have a range of specific proposals.
I have asked the Taoiseach to outline these specific proposals.
When we publish the report, the Deputy can address the whole issue.
That is not a satisfactory reply. I asked whether the Taoiseach had specific proposals, but the answer appears to be no.
There are a number of specific proposals, some of which are already in operation and if the Deputy does not know about them I would refer him to the Ballyconnell-Ballinamore Canal.
The purpose of Question Time is to elicit information.
With respect, the Deputy is being silly, there is a total ongoing programme for specified items of co-operation, and a major such project is the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell canal.
Has the Taoiseach any other specific proposals?
This is leading to argument.
The purpose of Question Time is to elicit information, which is all I am trying to do. I am trying to elicit information on the specific proposals for North-South co-operation.
I now call Question No. 7.
