Ms Pamela Arthurs:

I think that is what is needed if we are to properly tackle the disadvantage along the Border. Many people say one is better off on the east but there are still pockets of deprivation, for example, in Dundalk. We talk about the road infrastructure, which is important, but the B roads are not particularly good. There is a range of needs right along the Border.

We are currently talking to the 11 chief executives along the Border. We do not know what to call it. Sometimes there can be sensitivities around the name and whether it is an economic development zone or whatever else. It does not really matter what it is called, what is important is identifying the priorities and needs and getting them funded. That is essential and if we speak as one voice, we will be stronger.

We do have history in that regard. Twenty years ago the three groups – the East Border Region, ICBAN and the North West Region Cross Border Group – worked really closely because our members wanted local people to make decisions on the then INTERREG III programme. Some of those present might have been involved at that time. Civil servants in Belfast and Dublin did not want to let go of the control so what happened is that decisions for the Border were made in Dublin and Belfast by officials. We had a concerted lobby. The three groups worked together, which was a challenge. We had a Border corridor strategy at that time and we ended up with €53.9 million out of an €180 million programme which the Vice Chairman will remember. The programme was delivered locally be elected members and social partners. That was a high point of cross-Border co-operation. Unfortunately, what has happened since that time is the two programmes have become centralised again and sometimes one finds that the pure local cross-Border groups are not being funded to their detriment, depending on the priorities of the Government.

Even with the PEACE PLUS programme we need to have elements of that strategy for a Border corridor. We can develop that quickly and elements of it require funding, going into the consultation for PEACE PLUS. My view is that the genuine cross-Border needs should be funded by a cross-Border programme. I entirely agree with what was said about the strength and the impact being in working together. Many years ago when it was only the East Border Region and the North West Region Cross Border Group, they competed all the time and there was always this idea in the east that John Hume got everything for the north west. Perhaps that was not true but perception is reality. When we worked together 20 years ago we became a bit subsumed in INTERREG and managing the money and perhaps the higher strategic aims were lost at that stage because we have a small staff. In the face of Brexit there is an opportunity to turn something which is a big disadvantage into an opportunity moving forward. Again, the key point is that we need the Governments to work with us. We need them to recognise the need in the Border corridor as well. The good thing about the meeting tomorrow is that we have the Departments here and we also have the officials from the Northern Ireland Executive who will be around the table with us. Hopefully they will buy into the approach we are taking.