Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I remain unconvinced by that answer. The entire North-South agenda needs a fresh initiative, fresh engagement and an injection of additionality to what we have experienced to date. The former Taoiseach and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, made clear commitments to the A5 and A8 projects some years ago, but they have been somewhat diluted since. This is a great pity.

Regarding the review of North-South bodies, I get no sense of moving the agenda on in terms of what additional bodies could be established to the island's benefit. Discussions on co-operation as regards Altnagelvin Area Hospital and oncology services have been ongoing for three or four years. I am seeing nothing new in terms of hard, concrete, practical steps that can be taken on a North-South basis. Nothing I have heard today suggests otherwise. I am not mistaking this for normality. We have had good relations since the Good Friday Agreement and there have been good initiatives under the various North-South bodies and agencies that were subsequently established, from InterTradeIreland to the Food Safety Promotion Board and from Tourism Ireland to Waterways Ireland. In the early days, these had concrete, substantive, project-based achievements that delivered considerable momentum. Nothing of that calibre is in evidence currently.

With the British Government and the Northern Executive, will the Taoiseach commit to examining the North-South agenda seriously, in particular the review of North-South bodies, which has been waiting for some time to be signed off on? What are the conclusions of the review and what is the Government's response to an additional North-South agency?

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