Mr. Glyn Roberts:

I fully agree with Deputy Smith this should not done to the exclusion of other infrastructural projects in Northern Ireland but we have members in rural towns in Northern Ireland who feel left behind. There is a sub-regional divide and an infrastructural deficit in the west. I have always been very keen to get a city deal for Derry, which would be good for it and for Strabane. We have to ensure that in the areas where we build infrastructure, such as the A5 and A6, that we also regenerate the town centres to make sure they are competitive for any foreign direct investment we get on the back of corporation tax. I know corporation tax might be on a longer finger now. We have to ensure those areas are competitive and that it does not all cluster around Belfast. Having a functioning Executive and government in Northern Ireland would make it much easier to put that case. There is some good work done by our new councils. It would be good post-Stormont that regeneration powers are given to those councils to make the change in their areas.

It would be good to improve the rail link between Belfast and Derry. One can get more quickly to Dublin than to Derry on the train. I am told someone was able to cycle more quickly than the train from Belfast to Derry. I am not entirely sure that is true. We work very closely with the town-based Chambers of Commerce, most of which are affiliated with us and support the good work they do to regenerate their towns and make them attractive for people to live and invest in.

I do not know if Dr. McDonnell was referring to the relationship between our two organisations but it has been in place for a few years. We are the only business organisations invited to present to the North-South Ministerial Council. We very much want to build on that working relationship because we work closely with retail bodies in the United Kingdom and it is important to cover the North-South dimension. Watch this space.