Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is really good to meet the witnesses. It is nice to have another person from Tyrone involved in the meeting - it is where I am from originally. I have found the discussion thus far really interesting as I can see opportunities arising from it. Reference is made in the witnesses' opening statement and conclusion to certain asks with regard to the Border area being recognised as an area of national importance. That is really important. We can see how that works on other parts of the island, such as the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor in an economic context, but also the Wild Atlantic Way, for example, and what it has done, and the Atlantic economic corridor. Until today, I have not interacted with the witnesses. I would love this to become an entity that has the same recognition as those initiatives but that depends on it building an identity. There is a little bit of packaging and marketing to be done in that regard. As the document provided by the witnesses states, there is a need for place-making. I apologise if I am going over issues the witnesses have already considered, but there is significant opportunity within the region for place-making.

Senator McGahon referred to the potential of greenways, blueways and food trails. The witnesses referred to the natural assets. The people of the Border area are unique and that is a selling point. There is a real opportunity here to build an identity. I worked in advertising and marketing for 15 years, including for Fáilte Ireland, and I bring some of that to the area I represent. What feasibility studies has ICBAN done with regard to various experiences and types of place-making, whether that is tourism, amenities or business-orientated? There is significant potential there. Investing in the area makes it a more attractive place to live, which will be ever more important because of remote working. I agree with the remarks regarding investment in infrastructure. I do not want to hog too much time as I wish to hear from our guests.

Even before Covid, I was much involved in the area of remote working. I am happy to speak to our guests outside the meeting about linking in with various groups such as RoRemote or people who look into analytics around attracting diaspora back to an area, or to discuss funding for hubs. There could be potential with regard to the various funding streams that are available for the Border in particular in the context of hubs because my understanding is that the North is investing in hubs as well. I am very much on the same page as our guests and I am happy to engage with them outside the meeting with regard to marketing, packaging and remote work. I agree with their asks relating to an area of national importance and the importance of infrastructure and investment, as well as remote work.