Ms Michelle Gildernew:

I add my welcome to all the representatives. Their presentations have been very interesting. Dr. Anne Taheny used the word "pioneering" at the start of her contribution. That is what we need to see, a few pioneering people with vision who can make things happen. I was very glad to hear all of the work and the collaboration that is ongoing between the two institutions.

Like Deputy Tuffy who mentioned collaborative research and innovation, I was going to ask about the Seventh Framework Programme and whether any approaches had been made to the European Union for such funding. To that end it may be useful to approach Ms Colette Fitzgerald who heads up the European Commission office in Belfast and who would certainly point one in the right direction. The acting chairman did not mention at the beginning the three Ministers for education with whom the committee is involved - Deputy Ruairí Quinn, Mr. John O'Dowd and Mr. Stephen Farry and their officials. Sometimes there is resistance to collaboration and cross-Border working. While all the Ministers appear to be enthusiastic about it there are other areas where your pioneering work could help to remove some of the barriers, for example, in post-primary education, particularly St. Mary's and a school in Clones where those two areas would like to engage in better collaboration and removing some barriers which you seem to have successfully managed. I also want to add my comments to those of Deputy Martin Ferris.If any further assistance is required in terms of funding please write to or engage with this committee. I advise the committee to keep up the good work and hopefully that will filter down to other areas. Until we get proper cross-Border co-operation, our children are missing out along the Border and our families are missing opportunities they might otherwise have. We will see a situation where children are travelling long distances to avail of education that is available beside them. I thank the witnesses for the time they have taken to come here today.