Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will look at the question of the Bill of rights to see what preparatory work has been done. Before the election, I attended a meeting of North-South political representatives in Warrenpoint. The consultative group attended by the Ceann Comhairle's predecessor was a forerunner of the North-South forum. Having met people from deprived or vulnerable areas in Northern Ireland, I fully understand the implications of a withdrawal of funding and the potential regression into anti-social behaviour and other activities that no one wants to see.

I made that point to Senator Leahy in Washington last week in stressing the importance of continuing the IFI not only in its own right, but as a lever for acquiring other funding from the European Union for very valuable purposes. By the end of 2009, some €753 million had been made available to more than 5,800 projects, many of which have proven their validity. The fund focuses on Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. It is estimated that the fund has created up to 39,000 jobs and a further 16,000 indirect jobs in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border counties. It has been of real value. For those reasons, I would not like to see the fund being withdrawn. I hope the contact we have continued with the American authorities will result in the fund being continued and that other funding will also be made available.

The fund can only be wound up under the terms of Article 14 of the Good Friday Agreement with both Governments agreeing to do so and giving six months written notice. I am a strong supporter of this fund and will do everything I can to keep it in place.

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