Vol. 418 No. 5
10 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
18 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
26 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
29 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
30 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
32 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
39 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
40 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
46 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
51 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
55 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress on cross-Border economic co-operation which has been made since the report of 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
58 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
111 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress to date on cross-Border economic co-operation made since the report on 24 May 1989 on this subject in the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 18, 26, 29, 30, 32, 39, 40, 46, 51, 55, 58 and 111 together.
In accordance with the commitment given in the Review of the Working of the Anglo-Irish Conference of 24 May 1989, considerable progress has been made in extending and deepening cross-Border economic co-operation. For the purpose of advancing this process, it was agreed that Ministers with specialist responsibilities in the relevant sectoral areas would be invited to participate from time to time in meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
The following areas for co-operation have so far been discussed at meetings of the Conference, with the participation in each case of the responsible Ministers, North and South: Tourism and Transport (July 1990); Energy (October 1990); Environment (January 1991); Health (April 1991); Agriculture (September 1991); Education (October 1991); and North-South trade and the implications of the Single European Market for the island of Ireland (March 1992).
These discussions have led to significantly enhanced co-operation in many areas. In tourism, for instance, a programme including joint marketing projects and the sharing of customer services is being implemented jointly by Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourism Board. In transport the most recent Conference registered progress on the proposal to upgrade the Dublin-Belfast rail link and both Governments hope to make an announcement on the matter in the near future. In respect of energy, the discussions covered gas and electricity interconnection, and the March Conference noted with satisfaction the decision of British Gas to join with an Bord Gáis in a pipeline which will link Scotland with both parts of Ireland. In the environment area views were exchanged on hazardous waste disposal, road improvements, and the management of water resources. There were wide-ranging discussions in both the health and education fields. As regards agriculture, a steering committee on cross-Border rural development has been established to carry forward North-South co-operation. The most recent Conference, which I attended on 6 March, had a very useful discussion of North-South trade and the implications of the Single European Market for the island of Ireland. We reviewed joint initiatives to expand North-South trade and promote economic co-operation, particularly in research, technology and innovation and the opening up of public sector markets. We agreed arrangments for officials to undertake further work to encourage cross-Border trade and economic co-operation.
The Ireland and Northern Ireland Programme under INTERREG, the EC Programme for Border areas throughout the Community, is a further helpful initiative in promoting North-South economic co-operation in the five areas covered: tourism, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, human resource development, environmental protection and regional development.
In addition to the work being carried out by the Governments or official agencies, I should like to note also the important contributions to North-South co-operation made by a number of independent agencies, notably the excellent work being done by the International Fund for Ireland, the joint North-South initiative of the CII/CBI (Confederation of Irish Industry/Confederation of British Industry [Northern Ireland]), and the work of a number of other professional and voluntary organisations.
I very much welcome the widening of the remit of the Anglo-Irish Conference in relation to economic and social issues and I intend to explore ways in which this area of the Conference's work can be expanded.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and for the progress that has been made in forging links between North and South. May I ask the Minister if there have been any discussions on the case being made for Northern Ireland from an economic point of view at EC level by a joint approach being made by both North and South? We have heard at times that the Northern Ireland part of this country suffers from the lack of Structural Funds. I wonder whether an arrangement of that kind was discussed at any of the economic meetings.
Certainly a joint approach has and will continue to be discussed because it is in the interests of the totality of relationships on the one hand and in the interests of the whole island of Ireland on the other. The Deputy's approach is not unreasonable and it will continue to be processed and monitored.
I thank the Minister for drawing attention to the efforts being made in this field by an increasing number of non-governmental bodies. Would he agree that at times it may not be helpful to specify these bodies because that would not do their work any good? Would he agree in relation to one body — the International Fund for Ireland — that after a slow start this body with moneys from America, the European Community, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and a number of other areas, have been doing very good work and their efforts ought to be encouraged? I hope he will bring my remarks and other remarks to the attention of the Governments and agencies involved.
I am grateful to the Deputy for those remarks. When I visited the United States recently for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations I specifically raised the question of the International Fund for Ireland and thanked the American agencies involved for continuing to make contributions.
They are not always thanked for it.
I am sure they have been thanked by this and previous Governments and by other Governments. Perhaps the problem is that their efforts have not been acknowledged publicly. It is my information that the International Fund for Ireland will continue to operate and the sums committed by the countries the Deputy has mentioned will continue to be available.
The Minister's response was comprehensive and it is clear that there is co-operation at the top level, but is he aware that the findings of the surveys carried out, for example by the CII and chambers of commerce, suggest that if there was proper co-operation in the industrial sector on both parts of the island between 72,000 and 75,000 jobs could be created over a few years on the island as a whole? Would he agree that while it is wonderful there is co-operation at the top tier we have difficulty with attitudes at the lower levels, in the industrial sector? Unless the two Governments adopt a pro-active approach to try to change attitudes and make industrialists and business people see that it would be to their advantage to become involved——
I am anxious to help the Deputy to elicit information but he is embarking upon a speech. Brevity, please.
Unless the two Governments adopt a pro-active approach to try to change attitudes and to make people see that it would be to their advantage to do business with subcontractors and others on both sides of the Border we will go nowhere. What proposals does the Minister have to try to bring this about?
The questioning is over-long.
While it has been acknowledged that I have given a comprehensive reply to the questions tabled by 12 Deputies I take the Deputy's point. He has referred to the lower levels, that is, the industrial structure. The Government will do all they can to heighten awareness in relation to the opportunities that exist for organisations and companies both North and South. For example, a north-west study has been carried out and the recommendations made from that study have been examined by the relevant Government Departments with a view to implementing them, where possible, through existing or new programmes. As the Deputy said, there is scope to incorporate the study proposals in EC funded programmes, in particular INTERREG. In other cases the most appropriate vehicle for follow-up action is the International Fund for Ireland to which Deputy Currie referred. Therefore progress may be reported in the not too distant future.
Is the Minister aware that a company called Acumen, which was set-up with the aid of the IFI, was launched prior to Christmas with the aim of providing up to 80,000 jobs over a three-year period? Given that both sides of the Border are unemployment black spots, have the Government provided any help for that company in trying to provide those much needed jobs?
I have to be frank with the Deputy and say that while I am aware of the existence of this company I do not have the details. Having regard to what the Deputy has said, I will have the details provided to him.
