Ms Margaret Hearty:

I thank the Deputy for his question. InterTradeIreland is, indeed, one of the six implementation bodies. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, after the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was last year. We were set up with a specific remit to grow trade and economic co-operation between both parts of the island. Looking back to 1998, we had trade valued at €2 billion and, to a certain degree, two economies working back-to-back. We focused on the business and economic opportunities and probably steered clear of the politics.

To function properly as a North-South body, though, we do need both administrations up and running. We really welcome, therefore, the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive that allows the two administrations to be up and running. Our sponsoring Departments are the Department for the Economy and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Minster, Deputy Burke, and Minister Murphy hold two sectoral meetings each year where they come together and agree the priorities for the body. We really welcome, therefore, the re-establishment of the North-South Ministerial Council sectoral meetings. This allows us to continue to function fully.

An awful lot has been achieved over the last 25 years. Brexit shone a light on the interconnectedness of trade on the island and the interconnectedness of supply chains, especially in the agrifood industry, but also in other industries. There is an opportunity to accelerate and to get more businesses exporting cross-Border. We can then hand them over to Mr. Harper and Invest Northern Ireland and to Enterprise Ireland to take them off the island.

We have continued to operate for the last 25 years regardless of whether the Executive has been up and running or not. We really welcome, though, the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive and a fully-functioning board with representatives from right across the island. This is what makes North-South co-operation work meaningfully and effectively.