Micheál Martin
Ceist:141. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has made for developing cross-border institutions. [40261/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 October 2012
Ceisteanna (141)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government is firmly committed to developing cross border cooperation in every possible respect. It is a vehicle for reconciliation and better understanding on the island but is also a mechanism for ensuring a more efficient delivery of services and a more coordinated approach to job creation and recovery, North and South.
The establishment and first meeting last week of a North/South Parliamentary Forum was a significant and welcome step forward in developing a vital dimension to this cooperation. This body will meet twice yearly on a rotational basis and I am confident that it will add to the momentum for closer cooperation.
There has been valuable progress in cooperation through the North-South Ministerial Council and the North South Implementation Bodies.
Across a range of issues, the NSMC is facilitating economic and social sector activities on a cross-border, all-island basis. Ministers have re-iterated their commitment to practical cooperation on economic cooperation and to explore areas where potential cost savings might be achieved. The potential benefits of developing markets for both jurisdictions has been recognised.
In the area of transport, Ministers have agreed on a detailed timetable for the drafting, passage and enactment of parallel legislation, north and south, by 31 December 2014 to allow the mutual recognition of penalty points across Ireland.
In the tourism area, Tourism Ireland continues to build on the success of the 2011 marketing campaign which showed a growth in overseas visitors to the island for the first time since 2007.
InterTradeIreland is working to encourage and stimulate greater co-operation to increase applications to EU Framework Programmes, including enhanced levels of SME participation.
Earlier in the year the Special EU Programmes Body had a successful open call for INTERREG IVA applications with 91 applications received requesting €217.6 million.
In the field of environment, good progress has been made on repatriation of illegally dumped waste.
Education is a sector of great promise; among the joint work being undertaken is a joint attitudinal survey to inform cross-border pupil movement and school planning and liaison between the two Teaching Councils with the objective of facilitating full mobility of teachers across both jurisdictions.
In health, there is ongoing collaboration on minimum unit price for alcohol and proposals for a North/South Alcohol Forum to develop strategies in both jurisdictions on alcohol misuse. Planning is well advanced for the establishment of a radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin. Construction will commence in 2013 with the unit being operational in 2016.
A Memorandum of Understanding enables continuation for the next five years of joint programmes in education, training, research and prevention by the Ireland-Northern Ireland-US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium.
The St Andrews Agreement also provided for a review of the existing North South bodies and to examine the case for additional North South bodies and areas of co-operation, as well as a replacement for the Irish Lights Agency.
The first element of the Review, on value for money and efficiency of the North South Bodies, has been largely agreed. However progress on the Second and Third Terms of Reference of the Review, which include the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC, has been disappointingly slow. This is currently the subject of reflection and consultation and I am hopeful that progress can be made at the forthcoming plenary meeting on 2 November.