David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses are all welcome before the joint committee. The first obvious point to make is that we have an all-island economy. It is not something we want to happen; there is an all-island economy. Much of it happens organically because businesses and entrepreneurs recognise the value of the all-island economy if they can create jobs, grow their businesses and so on and if they can take advantage of markets on either side of the Border, they will do that.Moreover, it often is despite the political institutions, but it is because businesses themselves perceive the value in an all-island economy that we have one. The question is how to nurture, build and grow it, which obviously requires plans, strategies and policies. I have a number of questions in that regard, including the first and obvious one. The previous speaker spoke about the elephant in the room that is the possibility of an in-out referendum on the future of the North and Britain in the European Union. There also is the elephant in the room whereby there is, I will not state a hostility but certainly a fear, from some partners in the Assembly of any talk of a unified economy or an all-island economy and a resistance to it for obvious political reasons. It can be pitched to them to a greater extent that it actually is in their interests that the all-island economy grows in respect of jobs and so on and we continue unashamedly to make that argument. I was taken by the presentation made by Mr. Michael Burke that it makes sense economically, socially and so on.Consequently, this obvious elephant in the room also must be considered.

My questions primarily concern institutions because if one wishes to go beyond the organic, obviously the institutions must be fit for purpose to develop proper plans and strategies. If one considers the Good Friday Agreement and its outworkings including North-South bodies, the North-South Ministerial Council and so on, how effective or how ineffective are they in driving and developing the all-island economy? I am sure much good work is being done, even such as when this joint committee travels north to meet its counterparts. The health committee often travels north and vice versaand good work is being done at a cross-Border level by many committees of both jurisdictions. While this obviously is good, how robust are the institutions North and South, in particular in the North, in respect of driving on the all-Ireland economy?

In a follow-on regarding the in-out referendum on the European Union, some of the parties have proposed, with the support of some businesses, that were there to be a referendum and were it to take place in 18 months or two years' time, there should be a separate vote in the North. In other words, whatever way the people in the North voted, such as if they were to vote "Yes" to stay in the European Union, then that should be respected. How would that work or is that something to which the witnesses have given thought in terms of their own organisations? The second element is one now may be looking at more fiscal powers for the North. It was a commitment that was given by David Cameron after the election because of similar commitments now being given to Scotland. Consequently, what pitch would the witnesses make? What fiscal powers does the North need? I note Mr. Padraic White also touched on this in terms of a distortion of taxes. If one is looking at harmonisation of taxes, which would make sense and which would benefit an all-Ireland economy, what ones would the witnesses consider and what would they advocate should be the priority at that level?

The final question I have relates to another reality. It might be unpopular to say it at times, but we are told that the public sector in the North is too big and the private sector is too small. I agree that the private sector is too small. The question is how we can grow the private sector in the North. If we had a more unified economy, would that in itself deal with that reality? Perhaps that is a question for Mr. Michael Burke. That links in with the fiscal policies, because if we grow the private sector and we have more fiscal powers, that would give the Assembly and the devolved politicians the resources to meet the needs. Mr. Burke touched on the social, economic, environmental and co-operative priorities. That can only be done with resources. If we had more capacity to do it within the Assembly, it would benefit the situation greatly. How beneficial would the growth of the all-island economy be to the growth of the private sector in the North?