Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the guests for their excellent presentations. I do not want to rehash or reiterate what other people have said but I wish to pick up on a few points. Tremendous progress has been made. I live along the Border in Dundalk and travelling from Dundalk to Belfast now is a completely different journey from it was 15 or 20 years ago. That is to be very much welcomed.

The issue of sectarianism arises again and again in terms of the different education systems and a valid point was made about the notion of class in this context. There are people who strive to get their children into the best grammar schools in the North and who can afford grinds. This relates to the structure of the education system. We have the same problem in the South. The overall educational structure needs to be examined as well as the issue of sectarianism.

Another major issue, which I have raised previously. is that of the A level education system and students who have come through it attending university in the South and students from the South attending university in the North. There is a great deal of work to be done there. I am aware work is ongoing between some of the universities and work was done by the former Senator Martin McAleese and by Brian McGrath in DCU to encourage more cross-Border participation from students, North and South. Perhaps we could develop that further in terms of the Agreement.

How effective do the guests consider the North-South bodies have been? We strongly emphasised in the programme for Government their importance in improving the economic situation and in developing job opportunities. In what way can we improve or move them forward in their work when we look to the next 15 years?

On the issue of funding for projects that have arisen as a result of the conflict, what measures are in place to ensure that value for money is being secured? What improvements, if any, have the guests seen, or how well do they consider such money has been spent? What criteria are in place to ensure that such money is spent in resolving conflict? I do not mean to be disrespectful but if there was complete peace and harmony North and South, there would not be a need for some of this funding. Perhaps there is a desire to keep this ongoing.

On the matter of North-South co-operation on projects, one that is dear to my heart is the Narrow Water bridge project. The prospect its completion offers in terms of symbolism alone to mark the 15th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement would be of significant benefit. It would be helpful if we could have a definitive response from the northern side on the building of it because we are running against the clock on this one. If that matter could be settled in the very near future it would be a great project to show symbolically the link between the North and the South.