Mr. Steve Aiken:

The simple answer to the first question about infrastructure is "Yes". We would definitely support improvements in infrastructure. We support improvements in infrastructure across the board, particularly on the island of Ireland. We talk to our business community fairly closely and have sold Ireland plc as a great place to come and do business because of our various attributes, including corporation tax, our educated workforce and our infrastructure. Some of our people keep talking about the fact that if one goes to Dublin Airport, one has to take a taxi. It is timing. We have elements of a world-class infrastructure but the bits do not seem to join up and that is one of the things we would advocate.

In respect of high-speed trains and high street links, we work very closely with the Cork Chamber of Commerce. I did not really understand the statement by John Mullins about travelling by train and how we need to do something about level crossings until I walked up the train and realised that we did need to do something about them. There is an opportunity there for infrastructure improvements to make us a world-class economy for the 21st century.

As time progresses and resources are made available, we should be in a position to progress on that issue also.

The second question is related to Northern Ireland and how we can help to develop understanding, etc. As stated, ours is an apolitical organisation. However, we regularly discuss matters with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and political parties across the island of Ireland and elsewhere. It is interesting that one of the issues which emerged from our research is that which relates to costs. For example, the services provided by the National Health Service are free at the point of delivery. However, it seems to be a disincentive that people in Northern Ireland are obliged to deal with health service costs. There is a considerable economic argument in this regard. As we look towards the future and where we are going, that is one of the matters which will form part of the debate.

As a cricket fan like Senator David Norris, I will bat the question on rendition into the long grass.