Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I thank officials for their assistance and the briefing they provided which informed this discussion. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, who, in his usual affable manner, completed the passage of the Bill through the House. I am also grateful to him and the Minister for accepting a number of Labour Party amendments.

As Deputy Keaveney noted, this is an important Bill for people on either side of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. Its enactment will constitute a practical realisation of the work under way since the British-Irish Agreement entered into force in 1999. A similar Bill will come before the House next week. Developments such as these offer hope. Close co-operation between the two jurisdictions, working in tandem, are the way forward for this country.

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