John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

This is one of the many areas which could usefully be addressed by a new executive and assembly in the North of Ireland. It is merely one of numerous examples of how the fact there is no assembly and executive in the North is inhibiting development on a cross-Border basis across several socio-economic sectors, one of which is the greyhound industry. My dearest wish is that we would be in a position to discuss with a minister from the executive in the North how we could co-operate and move on in terms of developing the industry on an all-island basis, not seeking any territorial advantage, dominance or anything like that but merely as a matter of commonsense. We have seen that kind of co-operation deliver tremendously well in the tourism sector, another area of my brief, through Tourism Ireland. Unfortunately, until the executive and assembly are up and running again in the North of Ireland it will be difficult to progress projects such as the greyhound industry. This affects several other sectors as well. No doubt co-operation North and South in several fields and sectors is more than desirable as has been illustrated repeatedly.

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