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

We are trying, through the activity of this body, to have an economic impact. As I stated, it exceeded its employment target by 50% last year and is well past the halfway mark for its three-year target. As such, it is having an impact.

The areas of activity to which the Deputy referred could not be more relevant. For example, InterTradeIreland is helping small companies to start their export journey by trading North and South, developing collaboration in research and development and assisting companies in bidding for research funding. Under the regional strategy, we are encouraging collaboration across regions and asking for proposals in this regard. These types of competitive call provide opportunities for creative developments to emerge. We have established North-South links between local authorities and we are investing resources in developing stronger economic performance in the Border regions. Good activity is taking place in this area.

Deputy Tóibín indicated that there is an element of institutional staleness. We did not have cross-Border institutions for many years, and building confidence in them has been a task. Now that confidence has been built, good work is being done, and Ministers review practical programmes in this area all the time. We also share information about issues such as access to finance and how initiatives we are introducing are working. Shared learning is taking place in a dynamic space.