Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O’Donoghue and Mr. Duffy and it is very good to have them in. I welcome and appreciate these regular engagements with the unit. Even in the short number of engagements we have had, we can see that we have gone from the kind of aspirational stuff at the start to now having more practical things on paper, which is very encouraging and worth noting.

I have a few follow-up questions. It was very good news about the Narrow Water bridge. Is there a projected timeline in terms of delivery and, not least, the work starting? The report mentions the €7.6 million to the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route brand collaboration. That is something I have been a long time calling for and, even with the absence of the Executive, it is great to see it going ahead. Can the witnesses give me some examples of where that is manifest and how it looks in a practical way?

I have two questions. The first is on the issue of the all-Ireland rail review. I am a bit disappointed that it is not included in the report or at least I cannot see it. I welcome the fact there has been some public commentary that the Government is considering going ahead with publishing the findings of that review, and I think it is important that it would do that. Again, given Ms O'Donoghue's reference to the A5 in terms of the funding allocation and things like that, I do not think there is this same kind of restriction on publishing the findings of that review, which would help to inform and benefit the unit’s work going forward.

On the other issue, I remember Ms O’Donoghue had spoken at our previous meeting about education being a key priority for the unit, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, at the time was really invested in the issue of Ulster University Magee. Again, I do not see Magee referenced so I wonder if Ms O'Donoghue could give us an update on that.

To have the 25 investment proposals at local government level is very encouraging and worthwhile. Is consideration being given, for the period post the election in the North in May, to just re-engaging with what is potentially a new tranche of councillors across the Six Counties to make them aware, both at corporate level in local government but also at that political level, of this work? I think it is something that many councils and councillors would be willing to engage in.

On a final point, I have followed the recent dialogue in the media with interest because I think the media has been an example of where we have not matured on the island. The media have been facing away from each other, North and South, so it is great to see that reorientation and I hope there is more of that going forward. I ask Ms O’Donoghue if consideration is being given to following up on that and what that might look like specifically on that issue of the media going forward.