Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The all-island dimension will be an important horizontal theme of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, which will be published next November. We face common challenges in the two parts of the island, such as the need to invest in infrastructure, energy provision, education and training, new technology and research and development. Co-operation in those and other areas can be of mutual benefit, and the NDP will set out an agreed strategic framework for such co-operation.

My Department, in its co-ordinating role drafting the next NDP, has engaged with other Departments on the issue of North-South co-operation, with particular reference in this context to programmes in their area of responsibility. More generally, there is ongoing liaison between Departments and their Northern counterparts on matters pertaining to North-South co-operation. My Department will shortly engage in direct consultation with its Northern counterpart on the North-South dimension of the NDP.

As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot speculate at this stage on the context of the North-South co-operation elements of the NDP. I can, however, assure him that it is my objective that it be a substantive element that will set a basis for further mutually beneficial co-operation.

See this speech in context