Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, on the great work they did in helping to secure a new deal for Northern Ireland. I hope the proposed cross-Border task force on crime will be set up as soon as possible. The Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI will be taking the lead in that regard but I urge politicians to do what they can to make sure it happens soon. A neighbour of mine, Tony Golden, was cruelly murdered in October and another garda friend of mine, Adrian Donohoe, was murdered a couple of years ago. We also had the case of the Dundalk taxi driver who was murdered in the course of his work. We talk about diesel laundering and cigarette smuggling because they are the obvious examples of nefarious criminal activity. However, there is also extortion and racketeering and we have gangs masquerading as republicans and loyalists involved at a deep level in the drugs trade North and South. These are the activities that need to be tackled and ordinary policing will not do it. We need a multi-agency approach. I hope the proposals are not left to gather dust for a year or two years. The task force should be established without delay.

The Narrow Water Bridge project is an issue I have raised with the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and the Taoiseach. The last communiqué from the North-South Ministerial Council referred to that body's support for the concept of the project. The Minister of State indicated today that the Government remains committed to it. However, any commitment is empty unless it is backed up with the resources necessary to implement it. Given that PEACE and INTERREG moneys can no longer be used for tourism projects, we need to consider whether the Narrow Water Bridge should be redesignated as a tourism and transport project. Another option might be to avail of European funding for port connectivity projects in a scenario where the bridge could be used to connect Greenore and Warrenpoint ports. In any event, the Narrow Water Bridge is every bit as important as the Dunkettle roundabout. Perhaps some people in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport do not share that view but they do not live along the Border. I am not inferring anything about the Minister of State here.