I intend to take Questions Nos. 7 and 23 together.
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 wishes to see full advantage taken of the significant new opportunities which arise in this context for North-South trade and economic co-operation.
The evolving peace process will enable resources which were previously devoted to combating paramilitary violence to be transferred to productive economic purposes, North and South of the Border. The Government wishes to build on the positive developments of the past nine months and to explore how best to convert the "peace dividend" into real and lasting economic progress.
Within the Anglo-Irish Conference, we are considering with the British Government action which can be taken in a number of sectors to develop North-South co-operation. Over the past few years, we have 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.
At a meeting to be held later this week, the conference will discuss North-South co-operation in relation to heritage matters and broadcasting. Further possibilities for North-South co-operation will be examined by the conference over the coming months.
Apart from the regular meetings of the conference, Government Departments, North and South, are in regular contact with each other on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. The Government has also played a role in the elaboration of a number of other economic initiatives which are directly related to the peace process.
The White House Conference on Trade and Investment, which was hosted by President Clinton, was part of the American Government's support package for the peace process. It provided a unique opportunity for the private sector and the State agencies in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border counties to come together in a spirit of co-operation and to highlight the benefits of investing in these areas to several hundred leading American companies.
The European Union has also launched a support package to develop the peace process. The PEACE Initiative will help to develop cross-Border economic links and will devote a minimum of 15 per cent of its total funding to cross-Border development.
The Framework Document, which was launched on 22 February 1995 by the Irish and British Governments proposed the creation of new North-South institutions to "cater adequately for present and future political, social and economic inter-connections on the island of Ireland" and to enable representatives of the main traditions, North and South, to enter "agreed dynamic, new, co-operative and constructive relationships".
In addition to the foregoing initiatives, in which the Government has had direct or indirect involvement, a range of local government and private sector initiatives are under way to promote cross-Border economic and business co-operation in the context of peace.