I welcome the Minister for Tourism and Trade to the House. I appreciate him taking the motion as he could have sent a Minister of State.
I hope the Minister will accept the sincerity of the motion, which is not a political one. It has the widespread consensus of all the political parties in the north west of Ireland. I ask the Minister to give his support to the Bill currently before the United States Congress — Reference 104, 6 June, 1996 (HR 3599) — sponsored by Congressmen Manton, King, Gilman, Walsh and Kennedy, which will allow goods produced and manufactured in Northern Ireland and certain counties in the Republic of Ireland free entry to the United States for a ten year period, a trade measure which will help to create jobs here in areas of high unemployment.
The Minister represents an area with all the difficulties I believe are covered in this motion. He could not be a successful public representative in the west if his knowledge was not equal, if not better, than that of a representative from the Border counties. Last June I travelled to the US with a group of people. Having lobbied the Congressmen mentioned and a number of others, I believe there is a favourable climate in the US for the introduction of this legislation. That is why the US Congressmen have taken the initiative.
During the canvassing and contact with the Congressmen, we received a strong indication we were on the right course. Many of them indicated that the assistance the United States will give in the future may not always be financial. Many of the Congressmen, including Congressman Joe Kennedy, believe foreign aid from the United States will have to be restricted. He sees there are many areas of high deprivation in need of financial support within the US. He believes we are on the right track and that the proposal will have widespread support in the US. The legislation went to the House Ways and Means Committee in Congress, was adopted and is currently with Congress. When the House sits in January, it will be brought before it again. It has also been introduced in the Senate. We hope that the legislation, as proposed in both Congress and the Senate, will be passed. We also hope the Minister will give it his strong support in Ireland.
However much I respect them, the people who write the Minister's response may encourage him to refuse the proposal and point out the different problems and the reasons we could not accept it. I do not believe any of those reasons is valid. A free trade relationship between the US, Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland would mean that goods manufactured and all crops grown, including finished food products, would enter the US duty free. Any concern that this legislation would flood Ireland or the EU with US goods is incorrect. The legislation would be bilateral in so far as the goods would only have an advantage to the Irish producer.
There will be opposition from some sections in Europe but we must understand there are various forms of trade and favoured status in Europe. The Minister is aware of all the different areas where there are trade advantages. The free trade relationship would be modelled on the Gaza/West Bank Free Trade Act that was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton in October. This bill expanded an already existing free trade relationship between Israel and the US. We are not breaking new ground by requesting that the Minister support this proposal.
Yesterday in the Dáil, Deputy O'Hanlon asked a parliamentary question on this matter. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Richard Bruton, replied:
Despite the best efforts of the IDA, the Border counties, with the exception of County Louth, have not attracted new IDA assisted investment in recent years. Any recent new jobs created in overseas companies in Counties Cavan and Monaghan are as a result of developments in existing companies which have increased employment levels.
Those of us who represent Border counties and the west are obliged to be seen to be making a case. We are approaching crisis point. I am certain the Minister and those of us who represent the Border counties and the west will find a common ground when it is proposed to take Ireland out of Objective 1; I am certain the Minister agrees the west and the Border counties are not ready for that. The standard of living in those areas is not as high as in other parts of the country.
Statements are made in Europe every day that our economy is terrific and that we are about to be taken out of Objective 1. This will present a problem. The Minister will be seen to be taking the case on behalf of the west, and we will be working on behalf of the north-west. There is no conflict here. I ask the Minister to support this legislation. His support will be a tremendous help and encouragement. Whether we meet opposition from the British Government or certain sections in Europe, I believe we will be able to tell those who oppose the legislation that certain areas in the Border counties have already been identified as deserving INTERREG or peace and reconciliation funding. The areas marked out for special funding have been already agreed.
The Minister is fully aware that there is not sufficient funding or investment in tourism in the west and in the Border counties. He knows there are small numbers of big players who are developing the tourism industry and small operators must compete against them and against the funding that is available across the Border. The economy of the west and the Border counties should be treated seriously by every Government.
I ask the Minister to support this legislation. This is not a political issue and his support for the legislation would be of tremendous value. I am confident the Minister understands the need for it.