Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms O'Donoghue and Mr. Duffy and I wish them well with their work. As Ms O'Donoghue said in her presentation, this new initiative is welcome and inclusive. It is very much underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement and the progress made since April 1998. We want to maximise the potential of the Good Friday Agreement and ensure no diminution to any aspect of the Good Friday Agreement post-Brexit.

The presentation echoed the point made strongly by the Taoiseach speaking in the Dáil to the effect that this is new and additional funding. In the past those of us who represent Border communities have often argued that some of the new programmes that came to our areas, whether PEACE or INTERREG programmes, did not bring the additionality that they should have. Central government and local government often use these funding streams to fund particular projects that should be funded through the normal Government programmes of investment. It is important that the message is given out clearly that this is new and additional funding under this welcome initiative.

I welcome the fact that Ms O'Donoghue said that there will be greater collaboration and input by groups that previously did not have as much input as they should have had, such as women's groups and youth organisations. It is important to ensure that we draw on the wealth of experience and knowledge among local public representatives throughout the Border area. We have a structure with the north west involving the councils in Derry, Strabane and Donegal. We have the Irish Central Border Area Network and the East Border Region. Research has been done already with regard to projects that have the potential to bring investment and grow our economy on a cross-Border basis.

The €500 million to be committed up to 2025 is welcome. There is urgency about getting this going. That was reflected in comments by An Taoiseach as well. Ms O'Donoghue has outlined the urgency with regard to the new structure being put in place as well. We look forward, as the Cathaoirleach has said, to good projects of a cross-Border nature in our areas being developed and earmarked for this investment. It would be a great message to go out to Border communities who are nervous because of Brexit, which lies ahead of us. There will be additional investment in human and physical resources. I wish the officials well in the important work they have ahead of them on behalf of all the people of all of the island.