Vol. 457 No. 2
20 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will encourage all Departments and State agencies to have a co-operative and responsive attitude to approaches from Northern Ireland seeking to engage in North-South projects. [12249/95]
The Deputy can be assured that all Departments and State agencies are fully supportive of establishing and developing cross-Border linkages. As I have said in this House before, it is the Government's policy to promote cross-Border economic co-operation in all fields.
The new context created by the ending of violence has transformed the potential for such co-operation. The Government wish to see full advantage taken of the significant new opportunities which arise in this context for North-South trade and economic co-operation.
Within the Anglo-Irish Conference, we are considering with the British Government, action which can be taken in a number of sectors to further develop North-South co-operation.
The Anglo-Irish Conference over the past number of years has taken initiatives in the conference to promote co-operation in fields such as tourism, transport, energy, environment, health, agriculture, education, North-South trade, forestry and fisheries. In the period since the cease-fires of last autumn, the conference has considered the scope for co-operation in the areas of animal health and rural development; cross-Border roads, urban renewal and environmental issues and health issues.
