Neale Richmond
Ceist:20. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communication with the President of the European Commission. [23956/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Meetings
Ceisteanna (20)
Freagraí scríofa
I joined EU Leaders at the Porto Social Summit on 7-8 May, which was also attended by Commission President von der Leyen.
This included a High-Level Conference on 7 May organised by the Portuguese Presidency which discussed work and employment; skills and innovation; and welfare and social protection.
That evening I attended a working dinner where our discussion focussed on the COVID-19 situation, including production and distribution of vaccines, progress toward Digital Green Certificates, and international solidarity.
At our informal meeting on 8 May we adopted the Porto Declaration, which makes clear that our shared European ideal is first and foremost about improving the lives of our citizens.
We also welcomed the new EU headline targets on jobs, skills and poverty reduction.
Members of the European Council also attended an EU-India meeting with Prime Minister Modi on 8 May.
In our meeting we agreed to reinforce the EU-India strategic partnership which is underpinned by the shared values of democracy, freedom, rule of law and respect for human rights.
We agreed to resume free trade negotiations and to start negotiations on two additional trade agreements. A free trade agreement is likely to take some considerable time to deliver, so we also asked officials to ensure progress on market access issues that currently act as a barrier to smooth trade between us.
I regularly interact with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen on a range of issues, including matters relating to Covid-19 and economic recovery. We are very much of like-mind on the need to work with pharma companies to increase the supply of vaccines at global level as rapidly as we can, and to support the work of COVAX in making vaccines available throughout the world. I also regularly brief her on the situation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Since the beginning of the year President von der Leyen and I have participated in videoconferences of EU leaders convened by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on 21 January, 25-26 February and 25 March 2021.
Questions Nos. 21 to 43, inclusive, resubmitted.
Departmental Offices
Ceisteanna (44)
Neale Richmond
Ceist:44. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [23951/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I launched the Government’s Shared Island Initiative in October. The approach of the Shared Island initiative is founded on the Good Friday Agreement and engaging with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future on the island of Ireland.
The Shared Island unit in my Department is a driver and coordinator for this work. Operationally, the unit is focusing its work in three areas: commissioning research, fostering dialogue, and building a Shared Island agenda, including delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government.
In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund , €500m to be made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects.
The Shared Island Fund provides significant new, multi-annual capital funding for investment on a strategic basis in collaborative North/South projects that will support the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement.
The funding will support the delivery of key cross-border infrastructure initiatives set out in the Programme for Government and foster new investment and development opportunities on a North/South basis. In December, the Government approved over €6m in funding from the Shared Island Fund to enable the continued restoration of the Ulster Canal and further development of the Ulster Canal Greenway.
On 28 April, Minister Humphreys and I launched Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration project - between Clones and Clonfad - with almost €5.6m in funding from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, in addition to €6m committed by the Shared Island Fund. The Shared Island Fund has also provided a further €1 million for Phase 3 of the project – Clonfad to Castle Saunderson – to undertake the feasibility and pre-construction work, which has now begun.
The Ulster Canal is an excellent example of what North/South cooperation can achieve, as an amenity that connects towns and communities in the central border region, and a sustainable tourism initiative that will create jobs and be a lynchpin for other economic opportunity, on both sides of the border.
The Government will continue to work with the Executive through the North South Ministerial Council, including to progress key cross-border investment projects, which are part of our Shared Island commitments in the Programme for Government.
I launched the Shared Island Dialogue Series to support constructive and inclusive civic engagement on all aspects of a shared future on the island. The series is seeking as broad a range of perspective and experience as possible and supports the Government’s commitment to engage with all communities and traditions on the island on a shared future.
I addressed a Dialogue with young people on 26 November, on the theme of “New Generations and New Voices on the Good Friday Agreement”. Dialogues on Climate and Environment; Civil Society engagement; and Equality on the island, have also been held in recent months, with participation by the relevant Government Ministers.
The Dialogue series will continue through this year, including with a focus on Economy, Health and Education on the island.
The Shared Island unit is progressing a comprehensive research programme , working with the Economic and Social Research Institute, National Economic and Social Council, the Irish Research Council and other partners. North/South and East-West collaboration will be an important part of this work. Initial scoping papers on the ESRI research will be published this month.
Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South are key objectives of this work.
The research programme with the ESRI is on ‘The Economic and Social Opportunities from Increased Cooperation on the Shared Island’. Research outputs will be published and 2021 work is examining aspects of health, education, enterprise and the services economy on the island. Scoping papers on each of the ESRI research topics were published on Monday, 17 May.
The National Economic and Social Council are preparing a report to Government on Shared Island this year, informed by broad consultation, which NESC is conducting with stakeholders North and South.
The Shared Island unit is also working with the Irish Research Council and a funding call is open at present for academic contributions to the Shared Island research programme across a wide range of themes.
More broadly, the Government is committed to working to enhance all aspects of North-South cooperation on the island, including in third-level education, and to supporting a North/South programme of research and innovation, including an all-island research hub.
Questions Nos. 45 to 50, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (51, 52)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:51. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that addresses matters relating to the arts and culture will next meet. [24195/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGary Gannon
Ceist:52. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses matters relating to equality will next meet. [24197/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
Matters relating to arts, culture and equality are dealt with by the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality.
This Cabinet Committee last met on 30 November and will meet again shortly.
I have regular engagement with Ministers at cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to their Departments.
In addition, a number of meetings have been held between my officials and officials from relevant Government Departments since the establishment of the Cabinet Committee in July 2020.
Questions Nos. 53 to 66, inclusive, resubmitted.