Brendan Smith
Question:27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the priorities of the Shared Island Unit for 2022. [5190/22]
View answerNorthern Ireland
Questions (27)
Written answers
The Government’s Shared Island initiative is working to take up the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation and connection on the island, and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future.
We are working on an ambitious and whole of Government basis, and through all-island partnerships, with the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government, and with Local Authorities and civil society across the island.
The Government allocated €50m from the Shared Island Fund in 2021, to move ahead with key cross-border investments: new Phases of the Ulster Canal; the Narrow Water Bridge project; and, a major new North/South Research Programme delivered by the Higher Education Authority.
On 9 December, I addressed a Shared Island Forum event, with over 3,500 representatives attending online. I outlined the Government’s priority investment and cooperation objectives as part of the Shared Island initiative for the coming year, including:
- Cross-border investment in EV charging networks;
- Developing cross-border engagement on the potential of green hydrogen for road transport;
- Funding for cross-border climate action partnerships;
- Development funding for new cross-border Local Authority investment projects;
- Greater support for civil society engagement on an all-island basis;
- Examining how to enhance student mobility on the island and across Ireland and the UK;
- All-Island Research Centres; and,
- Resourcing to support business growth on a more collaborative cross-border basis.
This is a suite of Shared Island investments and projects that the Government will work through 2022 to deliver, working through partnerships on this island and across these islands.
We are also continuing the Shared Island Dialogue series, to foster deeper civic engagement on how we can work across all communities, in practical meaningful ways, for a shared future. A Dialogue on Tourism was held on 20 January, with participation by the Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin TD and over 160 tourism sector representatives and stakeholders. A Dialogue on Sport will be held in the coming weeks with participation by the Minister of State for Sport, Jack Chambers TD. In-person and regional events will be convened as part of the series, now that this is possible.
Finally, the Shared Island unit in my Department is progressing a comprehensive research programme - working with the ESRI, National Economic and Social Council, Irish Research Council and other partners - publishing a stream of high-quality work through this year, to inform discussions and engagement by all communities and traditions on the island on the opportunities of our shared future.