Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is nice to meet the witnesses. I was reading their opening statement and position paper. They stated that there are organisations which see North-South and east-west co-operation, as well as wider international co-operation, as essential to the ongoing peace and reconciliation process on the island of Ireland and to equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development. That is music to my ears. I welcome that, particularly since there are aspects of the Good Friday Agreement that have not been implemented, including the North-South consultative forum and the civic forum in the North. Do the witnesses feel that they fill that gap? The most important question I have for the witnesses is about what they want us to do. As already stated, I read their position paper. They outlined the best environment in which co-operation takes place. I would like to hear from the groups about how they make that co-operation happen and what we can do to help. I know there are people present who can bring to life some of the points they have made and I would be interested in hearing them do so.