Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages

 

10:00 pm

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the very high level of co-operation achieved through current mechanisms and know that under the proposed legislation, it will be further enhanced. All parties in Northern Ireland are doing their best and I trust them. Despite the significant challenges facing them, they will be able to bring together a viable Executive and functioning Assembly, a body which will bring local governance to Northern Ireland.

The British-Irish Interparliamentary Body has addressed many of the issues mentioned. The issue of all-island co-operation was discussed in Edinburgh 18 months ago, when Stephen Kingon spoke of an economic analysis of Northern Ireland, detailing positive and negative aspects. That discussion was continued in Killarney, where we talked to representatives of the DUP informally about engagement on economic and political matters. It was further advanced when Sir George Quigley addressed the body in Belfast earlier this year.

One issue is extremely important — I know that all the Northern Ireland parties have signed up to it — namely, an agreed rate of corporation tax on the island, an agreed programme of economic co-operation on North-South interconnectors, broadband infrastructure, roads and public transport, all of which have been mentioned. They are part and parcel of the current legislation. I have seen at first hand that there is tremendous co-operation locally, of which Border Deputies have extremely good evidence, in such areas as inter-church co-operation, cross-community relations, sports and educational exchanges and so on.

In July more than 80 groups met in Dublin Castle for a conference to discuss their experience of co-operation North and South, across the communities in Northern Ireland, and east-west. Arising therefrom, I have seen significant community initiatives. Deputy Ó Caoláin mentioned the autism centre. I pay tribute to the late Margaret Ewing, MSP, for the work she did to heighten awareness of the condition. I have no doubt that the centre of excellence of which Deputy Ó Caoláin spoke will come to fruition, just as the commitment regarding Ulster waterways will bring to fruition that aspect of development.

Civil society is driving much of that development. Although I do not suggest political parties are not part of it, such groups in Northern Ireland are far ahead of their politicians who ignore them at their peril. They want them to listen to their voices and grasp the nettle. There are issues that are difficult to tackle, including those relating to water rates and the reform of local government. If the parties in Northern Ireland are not to be relegated to the status of local councillors, however, they must all accept the challenge of making progress. I recognise the challenges that exist for Sinn Féin and the DUP in regard to policing and power-sharing, respectively. If both parties — we tend to forget the other parties, including the SDLP, the UUP and the smaller parties — work together, there is a unique opportunity to move forward the situation on this island.

Reference was made to the work that the North-South bodies should be able to do. Notwithstanding the challenges and restrictions they face, they can already do a significant amount. I commend their work. I spoke at a conference in Newry earlier this year at which the influence of these bodies was made clear. I look forward to the time when they will be able to do much more. The potential of the designated areas of co-operation is immense if the opportunity is grasped. I commend the Government's initiative in including in the national development plan a chapter on the all-island economy. That is crucial.

Deputy Keaveney referred briefly to the potential for east-west co-operation, an issue that does not receive adequate attention. Earlier this year, one of the committees of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body met representatives of the CBI and IBEC to discuss road transport connections within and between Ireland, Scotland and England. They outlined the volume of haulage that is carried from the Republic, through Larne to Stranraer and even on to Felixstowe. I urge the British Government to lend its support to initiatives in this regard. To date, regrettably, it has been found wanting in this area.

The potential for other links is great. Further east-west co-operation is possible in the gas and electricity markets and there is potential for enhanced North-South co-operation in health care and education. I recently attended a conference in Mullaghbawn, just outside Crossmaglen, where the links between Newry and Dundalk across a range of areas were emphasised, including education, industrial development and information and communications technology. There is potential for greater co-operation in such areas throughout the island.

Deputy O'Sullivan referred to the lessons North and South can learn from each other in the area of education. There is no doubt that the education system in this State has great strengths, but there are aspects of the Northern Ireland system from which we can learn. We have seen, for instance, that the North has the highest level of participation in third level education among all the regions of the United Kingdom and the highest level of early school leaving. Our school completion initiatives and the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme could be developed as models of best practice for both jurisdictions on this island.

There is major potential in the area of tourism. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland spoke at our conference in Belfast of how more than 2 million visitors came to the North last year, a figure greater than its own population. The all-island tourism product can be developed and refined a great deal. I commend the Government on supporting an instance of practical co-operation. At this year's Belfast Horse Show, I spoke to people from all over the island, including Cork, Tipperary, Down and Derry, who were competing for prizes. This was a level five competition and it is proposed to raise it to a higher level in the future. I commend the Government on lending seed capital to support this initiative. Similar initiatives can be taken in many areas, whether in respect of tourism, education, broadcasting, media or ICT.

This is an important Bill and I commend it to the House. It is something that can be built upon if the parties in the North recognise the challenge and grasp the opportunity it presents.

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