Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I join the Taoiseach in condemning the evil and cowardly murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr at the weekend. This was a shocking attack on the peace process and it is a human tragedy of immense proportions for the Kerr family. Our sympathies go out to the family, friends and neighbours of Ronan Kerr. Later today we will have an opportunity to articulate more fully our abhorrence at this horrific attack by a cowardly gang of terrorists whose sole objective is not just to visit terror upon the population of Northern Ireland but to undermine the transformation that has occurred as a result of the peace process.

Nowhere have the changes that have occurred in Northern Ireland been more evident than in the transformation of policing in that jurisdiction. All parties to the British-Irish Agreement deserve credit for that transformation, which is seen as being the way to proceed in resolving other conflicts across the globe. It is the foremost example one can suggest to people as a model to be followed in the context of conflict resolution. What occurred at the weekend was an extremely ruthless, strategic attack on the transformation to which I refer. We did not realise when we tabled these questions to the Taoiseach that such a murderous attack would take place in the interim. This attack underlines the need for vigilance in respect of the peace process. There is a need to pay constant attention to the detail of the Agreement and to moving it forward, particularly in the context of its economic and social aspects.

I tabled two of the questions in this group, the first of which relates to cross-Border infrastructure and the second to the North-South bodies. I have no difficulty with the two being taken together. I welcome the assurances provided by the Taoiseach in respect of the ongoing investment in infrastructure in Border areas. The programme for Government was somewhat light in the context of commitment in this regard. However, the Taoiseach has articulated that he is committed to the development projects relating to the A5 and A8 roads. The previous Government agreed to the allocation of between €400 million and €500 million to fund critical infrastructure for the economic and social development of the island, particularly its northern part. In the context of bringing significant inward investment to the Border area and the North in general, there is need for significant investment in the areas of utilities and infrastructure.

I ask the Taoiseach to pay particular heed to the north-west spatial study, which has been in existence for some time and in respect of which some political issues have arisen. This study is critical to unleashing the potential of the north-west corner of this island - including areas such as Donegal, Derry and elsewhere - in the context of attracting inward investment. In that regard, the relevant utilities must be upgraded. There is a good corporate tax policy in place on this side of the Border and there is a good pool of labour available on the other. If both Governments and the Executive got their act together and dealt with some of the issues that are delaying the study considerable potential could be unleashed. I ask the Government to pursue that. I also welcome the Taoiseach's confirmation of continued funding for all the areas of cross-Border infrastructure agreed by the outgoing Government.

With regard to North-South bodies, there will, shortly, be key visits by Queen Elizabeth and President Obama. Has the Taoiseach considered approaching bodies such as Tourism Ireland and InterTradeIreland to see if there are ways to highlight and use the potential of those visits to promote Ireland as a tourism and inward investment destination, particularly in Border areas and Northern Ireland itself? This is a welcome opportunity to promote Ireland through the North-South bodies. Now that the review is nearing completion, in the aftermath of the Assembly elections we should move on and be bolder by adding to the existing number of North-South bodies. There have been political issues regarding them for some time. People are becoming more comfortable with them as time passes. It is important to urge others to take a more pragmatic approach to the operation of the North-South bodies and to the creation of new bodies that could add real value to the island of Ireland in the future.

See this speech in context