Mr. Seamus Ó Domhnaill:

We have heard a lot about what we are doing. It is important that we lay out what we want our next steps to be and where we want assistance from this committee and other committees within these Houses. Looking at the current projects and initiatives that have been approved by the EU and both Governments, it is essential that they are continued to fruition and completion. We know, with the impending decisions that could be made, that there may be a premise that funding from different sectors could be stopped for projects on either side of the Border. We would strongly request the committee to do everything in its power to ensure that any projects or initiatives that have been approved or commenced are finished to fruition and seen out for the betterment of the whole region. We also see much discussion with regard to Derry city receiving a city deal from the British Government. Talks are at a very advanced stage. They are of a sensitive nature. We have taken an initiative at a political and executive level where we have signed a letter to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, asking that if a city deal is given for one part of the region, the Donegal side of the Border should receive similar funding to realise its full potential. We need that to happen and we are looking forward to that.

We see inward investment coming into Ireland daily. We as councils are working hard to get inward investment into our own area and region. I commend the councils for doing that. Perhaps if the bodies that are charged at a national level to take inward investment to all parts of this island were doing their job, there would not be as much of an onus on our councils to work as hard as they are to try to attract inward investment to a region in the north west of this island that can sometimes be forgotten about. We want to ensure that we are at the table and that when we are at the table we are taken seriously. That is why we are delighted to be invited here today.

There is the potential for future territorial co-operation funding. We look forward to that commencing and continuing in the future. In that regard, on behalf of the group and the north-west strategic growth partnership, I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, and the Northern Ireland Executive Office for their commitment, collaboration, buy-in, the vision that they have for what we are doing and their continued support for us.

We ask them to have faith in us and to continue to support us because we are doing this for the betterment of our region, our council, our people, our education, our health, our infrastructure and every facet of what is needed in those areas, not in Donegal or Derry but in the whole area. A tranche of north-west partnership funding has been put into what the two councils are doing and we ask the committee to ensure that funding is continued and renewed, irrespective of what happens in Westminster or what decisions are taken at EU level, so that what we are doing can be strengthened and built upon into the future and the full potential of our region can be realised. We ask the Vice Chairman and Deputy Crowe to use their good offices to ensure that happens.

I heartily congratulate the committee on the work it has done. We are very aware of the good, hard and diligent work it undertakes on behalf of all the people, North and South, in regard to the Good Friday Agreement. We want to work with the committee in the future and if we can do anything, either politically or on the executive side, we are more than willing to help. The things the committee is trying to achieve will be beneficial to all of Ireland. We ask for its continued help, support and co-operation and we look forward to seeing the results of that.