Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello. I will not delay the meeting. Deputations have to come to this forum to discuss issues like the development of the A5 and the construction of Narrow Water Bridge. The failure to complete the Narrow Water Bridge project is devastating. There was a feeling in every party that it would be done. It was seen as a new dawn for tourism in the area in question. It was also relevant to North-South relations. I certainly thought it should be completed. If there was a shortfall that could have been addressed by the two Governments, as some of my colleagues have suggested, I think it is something we should revisit in the short term.

It is imperative that we revisit the funding of the various organisations in the North to determine what is the best format for the provision of funding. I have found during visits with this committee and with the Labour Party that these initiatives form the basis for keeping many communities together. I appreciate that some people raise questions about the projects that are getting funding. Ultimately, the development of communications and contacts between North and South is all about generating positivity in the communities and ensuring that positivity is used to make both sides of the Border better places in which to live.

The SDLP made a presentation to us regarding the Civic Forum for Northern Ireland. It was supported by Sinn Féin. This is another example of an important initiative, which involved people of all parties and none, meeting a dead end. I suggest that the forum could be used by people from all communities in Northern Ireland who are interested in improving their facilities. It should be reconsidered by the North-South groups, perhaps on foot of ministerial intervention.

I would like to speak about the Haass proposals. We met those involved. It seemed that good progress was going to be made, but it suddenly transpired at the last hurdle that this was not possible. It appears that the leaders of all the political parties are still working on this. I hope that will continue to the point where an attempt can be made to ascertain whether Dr. Haass is prepared to come back for a final meeting with all the groups. Now that there is some positivity about this matter, we should not lose the opportunity to make progress. We should ask all the parties to continue their work in this regard.

Deputy Ferris spoke about the economy, which is the life blood of people on both sides of the Border. We must continue to develop all aspects of the economy. I have said on many occasions that the extent of educational opportunity in some parts of the North is very poor. Many people have significant concerns about what is available to the Unionist or Protestant community. Many of the people from that community who obtain educational honours at third level do not seem to believe in their own economy or their own community.

The minute they get the degree, they are gone so it is another area at which we must look and where we must develop a commonality to ensure we get the best for our buck. Again, I return to Narrow Water Bridge. This would be a flagship project in respect of what we are trying to do in this committee and with all the contacts we have with various groups in Northern Ireland. The one thing one can say is that every time we have gone to Northern Ireland, the welcome in all the different communities has been unbelievable, irrespective of which group it is. The part that I really sat up and looked at was the fact that no question was barred and nobody was unable to put their point. Everything was addressed to the best of their and our ability. That was certainly there. That is something our committee has been doing and the Chairman has certainly led that in respect of all the various meetings we are having. The other parties are doing the same. We must keep at it. I still believe that if we have a number of flagships, be they in health, transport or infrastructure, we should look at them and try to build upon them because they are important in ensuring that hope is there for people who in some instances do not have much hope and that they can see that we will help them as much as they can help themselves.