Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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As a Deputy from Dundalk, I appreciate the good work done by the chamber of commerce. Before I was elected, I did not really appreciate its work. I attended seminars organised by Dundalk, Newry and Warrenpoint which I found both educational and rewarding. Dundalk is located close to the Border and despite the different currencies and tax systems, it is good that people on both sides of the Border work closely together. The infrastructure in place in Dundalk is impressive. Some 80% of the 5,000 students who attend Dundalk Institute of Technology are local, which is very good for local businesses because the college works closely with the local community. We have also been very fortunate to attract foreign direct investment. Among other manufacturing companies, Horsewear Ireland is based in Dundalk, as are a number of IT companies.

The chamber of commerce plays an important role on both sides of the Border. It holds clinics and arranges presentations for business. Recently, there was a talk on the draft Louth county development plan 2015 to 2021. The chamber also advertises job vacancies, which is excellent. It also organised a cross-Border employment and advice fair. It hosts business breakfast events, both North and South.

The Giro d'Italia was fantastic for both the North and South and the two sides of the Border worked closely together on it. It is great to have different parades. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dundalk is organised by the chamber of commerce and it is excellent. The chamber has also developed a shop-local voucher scheme, which provided a significant boost for the town. There is no reason similar initiatives cannot be pursued in Newry and Warrenpoint. It is important we look after our own.

There is a clear willingness between the North and the South to work together. Coming as I do from the area, I remember the bad times along the Border, including the RUC and Garda operations. There was an awful sense of fear. There is great potential if we work together to develop tourism and business in the region. As a small island, we must work together. It was a big disappointment that we were unable to get sufficient European funding to start work on the Narrow Water bridge. That would have brought a massive boost to tourism and business in the area. Life is full of knocks but we have to pick ourselves up.

I welcome the progress that has been made since the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process. I remember the bad days but it is fantastic to think my children and grandchildren will have a better experience. As the Taoiseach has said, this is the best small country in the world and we should be proud of it. The Irish flag is flown in Australia, Canada and America. My hope is that the economy will pick up on both sides of the Border in the coming years. It would be fantastic if our families could start returning from all those distant countries. We probably have the best education system in the world, as well as the best doctors and nurses in the world. It would be fantastic to see them coming home. Perhaps Senator Quinn will open a few more supermarkets to bring them back. There is too much bad feeling at present. It is important we be positive as a country. Thirty years ago people never thought there would be this level of cross-Border co-operation. I welcome that we can all sit in the same big room and share the goal of ensuring both parts of Ireland do well.