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

I thank Ms Deane for her attendance and for the detail she has given on the recent announcement. It is very helpful. It is really a sign of the progress for the future that we can make on this island. These are the days we get to see Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly playing hurling - or was it camogie - and we must not forget to mention the education Minister, Paul Givan, and his dancing - although it was hardly the Siege of Ennis. It was great to see him Irish dancing. Let us be honest; times are changing and there is a new atmosphere. I welcome the prominent involvement of the deputy First Minister in community activities. Long may it continue. It augurs very well, as does the funding that has been provided. It is remarkable the future we could have together regardless of political differences. As a Deputy for County Louth, I must acknowledge the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Simon Coveney, for the work he did as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O' Donovan, in particular for the Narrow Water Bridge development. They visited there a couple of years ago and we went through the process and the projects they had in mind, which I am delighted to see coming to fruition. I would like Ms Deane to pass on our thanks to them personally. It is very important that the work of people like this who step up to the mark is acknowledged. With regard to the whole future of the island, the Boyne Valley, which was the cause of so much dissension and trouble in our past history, can become a focus for peace and a centre for all shades of opinion and especially unionist opinion and so on. Obviously for cross-Border activity the Narrow Water Bridge is important to everybody North and South and particularly in County Louth, where I live, and in County Down for tourism.

It really is a new departure, and it will obviously have significant developments elsewhere on the island, particularly the road between Derry and Dublin.

We agreed at the beginning that the time members would have would be ten minutes, within reason. There is no issue with that. The order is Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, Independents, Alliance, Sinn Féin, SDLP and so on.