Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for arranging this session at short notice. It has given Mr. Hannigan and Professor Ó Néill a great opportunity to present so eloquently and so truthfully as they have done. It is also a good opportunity to showcase what is happening in the north west. It has been referred to by a number of speakers as a region that has been neglected so much over recent decades. Moreover, we have two senior people here from the education sector who both live very close to and either side of the Border at Ardboe and Ballyshannon. They bring their skills to the table here because a lot of what is happening in the north west is a result of individuals like them. I do not know Professor Ó Néill long. I met him first two years ago in the context of the community games, and I know from then how co-operative an individual he is. Their willingness to adapt and evolve over time is the reason that higher education in the north west is where it is, and looking to progress as much as it is. It is welcome. It is also welcome that the witnesses outlined the other agencies such as the county councils and local authorities, be they Strabane, Derry or Donegal, and the collaboration that is taking place. That reflects a leadership role and co-operation with other departments across the board. I hope the shared island unit will take cognisance of what has happened here today, including the presentations, and the role that higher education is playing in the development of cross-Border co-operation and the possibilities that this model can create for other parties.

The witnesses were presenting today to one of the Oireachtas committees that is less political than the other committees. There has been a tradition on this committee of being less political and more about co-operation on a North-South basis. That is very welcome and the proposals will be welcomed across the board. We look forward to working on them. Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke to me briefly about the proposal and I will come back to him on that afterwards. I thank the provost and the president for presenting today. I hope we can have cross-party common approach to try to move forward a lot of the issues raised here today.