Mr. Pat Doherty MP:

I welcome Ms Taillon and her colleagues here today.

We have just been through the elections in the North to the new so-called "super councils" that have been given increased economic powers and the councils in the South have been given increased economic development powers. Is there any ability to create a Border development zone that could develop all of that and bring it forward? If one looks at any of the indicators of unemployment or deprivation, one will find them at their height outside of large urban centres in the Border areas. I wonder about the potential of a Border economic zone, given that in ten months time the new super councils in the North will be in place. The elections have been held and the powers are being transferred from various departments as we speak.