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Cross-Border Co-operation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (254, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

254. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline projects on which his Department cooperates with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the North. [54156/12]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

268. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline projects which his Department cooperates with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the North. [54158/12]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

269. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline projects which his Department cooperates with the Department of Employment and Learning in the North. [54159/12]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

270. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the nature, process and outcomes of the North/South activities of the Enterprise Development Agencies. [54381/12]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

271. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the nature, process and outcomes of North-South co-operation with respect to ITI programme activity and corporate governance and financial matters. [54382/12]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

272. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the nature, process and outcomes of steering committee meetings and other planning meetings which his Department holds with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the North. [54383/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 268 to 272, inclusive, together.

North South economic cooperation is and will remain a priority of mine and of the Government. To this effect, there is on-going dialogue between relevant Departments and Agencies, North and South, to promote economic development, job creation and innovation, in the border region. A key area of engagement at official level between my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland (DETI) is our joint support for enterprise projects for both sides of the border region under the INTERREG initiative, which is co-funded by the EU, by my Department and by DETI. Both Departments are represented on a Steering Committee to consider project proposals. We have provided significant financial support towards a number of North/South projects, including enterprise networking and capacity building initiatives for the border counties and Northern Ireland and several other enterprise development projects. The assessment process for remaining projects under the current programme is on-going and officials from both administrations are also engaged in a process which will hopefully see a new INTERREG scheme initiated, when the current phase expires in 2014.

Another key area is our on-going dialogue with our counterparts in DETI in relation to the operation of InterTradeIreland (ITI), the North/South Trade and Business Development Implementation Body. ITI is co-funded by my Department and DETI and so all matters relating to the management of the Body and the planning and oversight of its schemes and programmes, involve close interaction by the officials of both Departments. Specifically, this engagement involves agreement on the key themes of ITI’s programmes which must be aligned with national strategies. The engagement also includes key aspects of corporate governance and financial control, including ensuring that value for money and efficiency savings are applied to ITI programme activity. This requires officials to engage very frequently throughout the year, to address issues that arise in relation to these requirements. A range of formal oversight arrangements are in place. In addition, the Secretary General/Permanent Secretary of both Departments met the ITI Board recently for a general economic discussion and to overview the on-going operations of the body.

Enterprise Ireland (EI), which stimulates the development of indigenous enterprise, has extensive contact with its Northern counterparts and works with them on a range of programmes to drive job creation in border areas. EI North-South programmes and activities include Bridging the Border Seminars/partnering events. These events are designed to promote joint opportunities between firms North and South in areas such as licensing and commercial agreements, sub-contracting, technical co-operation and business partnerships. In addition, clients of Invest Northern Ireland (INI) can participate on EI programmes such as Leadership4Growth and the International Selling Programme. Since 2006, clients of both agencies can access market services, trade missions, overseas offices, trade fairs, seminars, market development programmes etc., provided by each agency. The all island Innovation Voucher initiative, jointly launched by Enterprise Ireland and INI, provides Irish SMEs with access to a further 10 knowledge providers based in the North, and allows Northern Ireland based SMEs to use INI Innovation Vouchers to access expertise in research institutions based in the Republic of Ireland.

An example of close agency cooperation is the Acumen programme, a key all-island business development programme managed by InterTradeIreland and supported by Enterprise Ireland, INI, FÁS, Údarás and the County Enterprise Boards. The Programme is designed to stimulate cross-border sales and coordinate development amongst SMEs, North and South, to establish and build market presence in the other jurisdiction. This is an excellent example of all relevant bodies coming together to drive enterprise development in the region.

IDA Ireland collaborates with Invest Northern Ireland, for example, in the Northwest Now initiative, developed to capitalise on the combined strengths of Letterkenny and Derry City as an economic corridor. The focus has been on developing compatible infrastructure and property solutions, which are now in place, and make the region more attractive for investment. More recently, there have been very positive developments where a wide range of agencies and institutions now co-operate on science and technology issues, including participation in the EU Research Framework Programme.

To ensure cohesive integration of the relevant activities of the two Departments, and the key Agencies in both jurisdictions, we organise an annual meeting involving my Secretary General, the Permanent Secretary of DETI, with the CEOs and Chairmen of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, to discuss a variety of North-South strategic issues. My Department officials, and the enterprise development agencies, will continue to work diligently with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to increase mutual economic benefits, especially on job creation. In addition, officials in the Employment Rights area of my Department meet on a regular basis with their counterparts in the Department of Employment and Learning to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

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