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

I will share time with Senator Erin McGreehan. Senator Niall Blaney is in the Seanad but hopes to join us later. I welcome Mr. McNeill and Mr. Campbell. I also welcome their presentation, which gave a positive outline of the potential of our region. I am glad that I suggested, when this committee was first formed in this Dáil, that we meet with different cross-Border partnerships through the local authorities, such as ICBAN. The presentation demonstrates the value of meeting with them.

Similarly, when we met representatives of the shared island unit, I emphasised to them that there is a huge amount of knowledge and an existing co-operation model in the east Border region - the north-west partnership and ICBAN - and that this should be utilised. I understand the shared island unit has considerable contact with ICBAN and with others. I sincerely hope that can be built upon.

I compliment ICBAN on its work on Brexit in recent years. I read all the material Dr. Katy Hayward contributed. It was useful in informing our local communities of the particular challenges that exist due to Brexit. I also welcome that Mr. Campbell identified areas of particular strength in that general area. He mentioned the importance of the farming and agrifood sector, tourism, hospitality, engineering and construction products, as well as the particular challenges that are shared throughout this island and elsewhere in dealing with Brexit, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor David Maxwell is a strong advocate for the development of the Ulster Canal, as am I and other public representatives in the Cavan and Monaghan region. There is a strong Government commitment in that respect. The project needs to be progressed as soon as possible but the restoration has always proceeded on an incremental basis. I saw in my old home area the restoration of the then Ballyconnell-Ballinamore Canal. That led to the construction of Shannon-Erne Waterway, which has been a powerful source of economic activity and attracts major tourism to our region. I wholeheartedly concur with ICBAN in regard to the importance of the Ulster Canal, the blueways and greenways, and all the downstream benefits from the Ulster Canal development.

Regardless of what challenges there are, whether Brexit, the pandemic or worldwide economic downturns on a cyclical basis, the Dublin-Belfast corridor and similar areas will be able to look after themselves. However, areas such as the counties ICBAN represents will face particular challenges during economic downturns. Mr. Campbell highlighted areas in which we have particular strengths, namely, agrifood, engineering, tourism and hospitality. For most of those who export products, Britain is the key market. In dealing with companies on both sides of the Border, the first export market for a Cavan or Monaghan company is Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Similarly, our neighbouring counties north of the Border often depend on the Southern market as the first export outlet. Subsequently, they go on to grow and export predominately to Britain. There are, therefore, huge challenges for many of our companies because of their heavy dependence on the British market. We have to be conscious of the ongoing challenges of Brexit.

Mr. Campbell noted that our region does not have one major urban centre. Two neighbouring partnership areas in the east Border region have large growth and urban centres which are beneficial to them. Likewise, in counties Derry and Donegal, the north-west partnership, Derry and Letterkenny are major centres. Fortunately for the region, these centres have a university and an institute of technology. These are important ingredients in contributing to an area’s economic success. We have to keep focusing on the particular challenges that face us because of the dispersed nature of our population and because those counties are by and large rural.

Mr. Campbell mentioned education. In the context of the development of technological universities in this State, I believe in placing a greater emphasis on the provision of education, particularly further and higher level education, on an all-Ireland basis. Has ICBAN worked with the colleges of further education in Northern Ireland and their counterparts in this State to build up the capacity to provide more focused education and training?

On the Ulster Canal and the opportunities to grow tourism, we should take the relatively recent example of the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark, of which Cavan Burren Park is part. It has been successful. Thankfully, there will further developments of the Shannon Pot. We know of the success of the Cuilcagh boardwalk. These are good examples of cross-Border co-operation from the past 15 or 20 years. In advocating for a region, we must continue to identify other projects that can bring initial economic activity to the area and build on its natural strengths.

In view of the pandemic, has ICBAN, in co-operation with the local authorities, done advanced work on the possibility of having more remote working and bringing people back to the areas it represents? I have in mind the new way of working, whether the hybrid working model or working from home.

I would like to hear Mr. McNeill's comment on that.