Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The Deputy will be aware that a new Minister has been appointed to the Northern Ireland Department of Education, which is responsible for primary and secondary education in Northern Ireland. I had the pleasure of meeting the new Minister, John O'Dowd, in Dublin last Friday. We had made contact with each other after President Obama's visit. I was impressed by my meeting with Mr. O'Dowd. We have a similar attitude to common sense, practical co-operation. As the SDLP has said on numerous occasions, North-South help and co-operation makes sense. We should do it together without getting tied up in the fears and aspirations that have surrounded these issues for 60 or 80 years.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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