Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 27 April 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That would be great. I thank Mr. Duffy.

Ms O'Donoghue talked about hydrogen. That is really interesting. We all recognise that we have to tackle climate change on an all-island basis, but we really need the all-island hydrogen strategy to be able to do that, to be able to advance renewables in the way we need and to capitalise on the Atlantic economic corridor. I am really glad about the developments in respect of Derry and the Magee campus. The Mayo campus of Atlantic Technological University is focused on medicine, and what I really want to see happen there is the exchange of students. What is significant since we last met is that in the higher education Act, the newer Act, there is now an explicit piece encouraging student mobility across the island that has never been there before. Each of the higher education institutions has been tasked with having a plan to see how they will encourage North-South co-operation. There is the legislative framework there to be able to continue that work, and I really look forward to the next report the shared island unit has on education.

Is the shared island unit doing anything, or does it plan to do anything, in respect of the impact of Brexit? I am talking particularly about the services not being included in the agreement and the impact that might have on foreign direct investment, FDI, and growth potential across the island.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.