Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Deputy Martin Kenny's observations, we should recognise the achievements in North-South and east-west collaborations. The Good Friday Agreement was a significant achievement for this island. It must be continuously protected and worked on to support it. As Dr. Soares noted, strand 3 and the commitments contained therein were voted on by the people living on the island. We must recognise that achievement. However, there is a fear that some of that work could be unwound.

Other things we have achieved include accessing funding through the EU Cohesion Funds under the INTERREG programme. In the south-east region there was collaboration with Wales to access INTERREG funding in education and other areas. My concern which I have raised here previously relates to what the future holds and might replace these supports which have been hugely valuable to rural communities. Education and renewable energy projects, as well as other initiatives, have benefited, both in Wales and the region from which I come. I am sure the position is the same in the North of Ireland and elsewhere in the South. As Dr. Soares rightly pointed out, the European Union has a responsibility to continue to provide support for the regions, including rural communities on the island of Ireland, as well as in Wales and Scotland and similar places mentioned by him. Looking at the successes of funding programmes such as the INTERREG programme, what can we access or where can we go to access similar programmes? The European Commission and other organisations have a role to play in that regard.

Mr. Campbell made a good point about networking. Strong and successful networking was down to strong individuals who knew where to go. Mr. Campbell is correct in saying we need to be more systematic in that regard. We cannot just depend on individuals. In time we could lose some of these good individuals and then what would happen? Would the network be lost or break down? We need to tap into new ways to systematically build networks in order that no matter who comes into an organisation, the network will be in place or there will be an axis with which they can identify. It is already working. As Mr. Campbell spoke, I recalled how two or three years ago individuals from rural development groups across Northern Ireland visited the LEADER group in Waterford to discuss rural development programmes. I was invited to meet them. They shared information, for instance, from a small start-up business in rural Ireland which was making yogurts and cheese. It struck me that there were more links than we recognised. That is one example I came across and I hope it will continue. There are also women's groups North and South, east and west, and opportunities to tap into them. Farm organisations such as Macra na Féirme could share their experiences with similar organisations in other regions. There are structures in place. We just need to identity them and connect with them systematically. Energy will come from them in building new partnerships. Therefore, I am hopeful for the future, although there are great challenges.

What level of commitment have the delegates experienced in terms of political engagement? I know that they must be careful, as they will not want to chastise anyone in public, but among the local authorities, North and South, for instance, what level of commitment have they experienced? The regional assemblies are very important organisations from which they need a commitment. Is there commitment or a stand-off approach taken by parliamentarians, North and South and in the United Kingdom, as well as by the UK and Irish Governments? I hope the Northern Ireland Assembly will soon be back up and running again as there is a vacuum. We need political leadership to engage with and advocate for communities. I wish the parties in the North well in order that the Assembly can be re-established.

What is the level of commitment among EU institutions, including the Commission and MEPs? Is there something on which we can improve?