Oireachtas Committee to discuss opportunities in North/South Public Service Provision

12 December 2012

A Centre for Cross Border Studies scoping study Delivering a Prosperity Process: Opportunities in North/South Public Service Provision will form the basis for the discussions.  Report author Michael D’Arcy will present its findings to the Committee.

Committee Chairman Joe McHugh TD says: “Our Committee is acutely aware that, 14 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the synergies that exist in the provision of public services provision on a North-South basis are not being harnessed to their full potential. The study identifies a series of measures to bolster cooperation, including the development of cross-border initiatives on health, energy, water, tourism and higher education. Our Committee looks forward to exploring with Michael D’Arcy how best to overcome the practical and cultural barriers that have been ingrained through 90 years of parallel development in both jurisdictions.

The meeting will commence with engagement with representatives from Youth Work Ireland and Youth Action Northern Ireland.  Youth Work Ireland is a federation of local youth services throughout Ireland, while Youth Action Northern Ireland works with young people to support them as active and equal citizens whose voices are heard, respected and valued.

Deputy McHugh continues: “Last month, our Committee visited East and North Belfast for a wide range of discussions with those at the forefront of community relations in unionist and nationalist working class communities. There we heard firsthand the issues of unemployment, lack of educational attainment and drugs related crime facing young people in those areas and Committee Members were struck by the common challenges facing their counterparts south of the border. Tomorrow’s meeting is a timely opportunity to assess the valuable work of both organisations in supporting young people on both sides of the border.”

The meeting takes place at 12 noon tomorrow 13 December in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Commencing with the discussion on youth work, the session on public service provision will follow at approximately 1 pm. Committee proceedings can be viewed online via this link.

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Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie


Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan,  Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty,  Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick,  Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD