Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome Mr. D'Arcy and thank him for his contribution. I regret, however, that it seems unlikely his report will be given any real, serious consideration in the course of this meeting. I accept that we are operating under time constraints, but it seems clear to me that the committee needs to be allowed time to give the matter further consideration. The form that consideration might take can be discussed in private session. By allocating only today's meeting for discussion of the report, we are not giving it due attention.

What stands out from Mr. D'Arcy's statement is his indication that all participants in the study agreed that opportunities for cross-Border co-operation in the provision of public services are being under-utilised. He referred to several areas in which there is potential for practical co-operation, including higher education. There have been some positive developments in this area recently, such as the co-operation at ministerial level in respect of the survey on small schools in Border areas.

Mr. D'Arcy also observed that 90 years of development has resulted in an ingrained institutional separation of public services which has the potential to block the types of initiatives he discusses in his report. We must give careful consideration to how those difficulties can be unblocked. Would he recommend, for example, the establishment of additional North-South bodies, for which there is scope under the Good Friday Agreement? Earlier in this meeting we discussed the opportunities for co-operation in the area of youth work. Is that an area in which Mr. D'Arcy sees scope for enhanced co-operation under the terms of the Agreement?

In regard to the overall response to his report, North and South, will Mr. D'Arcy indicate whether any individual Departments in either jurisdiction have acted on any of its recommendations? I presume, after all, that he wrote the report on the basis that there would be follow-up on those very clear recommendations. Have Departments been in contact with Mr. D'Arcy to discuss how they can best move forward in this regard?

Finally, I would appreciate if Mr. D'Arcy could expand on the economic development zone issue. I reiterate my apology that the committee is not giving the report the consideration it deserves. I am strongly of the view that we should have another meeting to continue our discussion of the issues raised therein.