Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Donoghue for that. I can only laud the shared island unit for the fantastic work it is doing, the way it is interacting with all of the appropriate groups and bodies, and the research and co-operation it is involved in. They are working with everybody. That is the key to it - everybody working together.

As for the involvement of this committee, the shared island unit has had a number of events. I appreciate we have not been invited to them as such, but I think we should have a more proactive relationship with the shared island unit in terms of specific issues. For instance, a number of us visited the city of Derry-Londonderry recently and there are lots of issues there with the chamber of commerce and with Foyle Port. I appreciate we will have questions shortly but my own particular interest is in the hands-on issues that the shared island unit is getting involved with. Can Ms O'Donoghue see a role for us, as a committee representing all of the elected people in this island, in some of those events? That would be constructive. Inclusiveness at the appropriate time of political representatives is important. I certainly would welcome the opportunity, and I am sure other members would, to meet with key people in the voluntary and other spheres who might be useful for us to engage with and to visit. We will visit Belfast next week. We hope to visit mid-Ulster and Derry in early January or mid-January. We want to be seen to be active in all these events.

Senator Currie has the floor first, even though I have used some of her time.