Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Plenty of actions underpin the development in practical ways. I am not trying to be smart, but there is genuine debate about what is the best way to develop. Is it around a Border corridor or the all-island economy concept, through which we play to the overall strengths of the two economies and can take a greater look at regional strengths and opportunities? There is a genuine debate to be had as to whether this is a concept that offers a great deal of potential. We are taking practical actions in areas that have potential, particularly around the SME and food agendas, the green and renewables agenda and centres of excellence in terms of research capacity. They fit into an all-island concept. The UK has had mixed success with development zones and, therefore, there is a debate to be had as to what is a zone, whether it works, whether a zone can be created in an area of disadvantage and whether it will self-combust, or whether we need to look at poles of strength and have layering development that integrates into poles of strengths within the bigger picture.