Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not raise the specific Irish language issue with David Cameron. The strategic partnership agreement that we signed enhances the relationship between Ireland and Britain, and between here and Northern Ireland, to a great extent. I do not have any great wish to set off on the appointment of a plethora of new bodies for the moment. Before I give the Deputy a view of some of the things we are interested in and where some activity is taking place, I will reiterate that much more can be done and emphasise that it would be much easier if this economy were in a strong and thriving position.

For instance, in the transport area, the Ministers have agreed on a detailed timetable for drafting the passage and enactment of parallel legislation North and South by 31 December 2014 to allow the mutual recognition of penalty points across the island of Ireland.

Tourism Ireland continues to build on the success of the 2011 marketing campaigns, which resulted in an increase in overseas visitors for the first time since 2007. Given the success of the Irish Open held in Northern Ireland and the world rankings of a small but influential number of golfers here, this speaks for itself. Next year, of course, Derry has Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and is the international City of Culture, and there is a great deal of activity going on between tourism areas North and South.

InterTradeIreland is working to encourage and stimulate a great deal of co-operation to increase applications to the EU framework programme, including enhanced levels of participation by small and medium-sized enterprises. At the Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, leaving aside other matters that were discussed, there was quite a discussion on the Compact for Growth and Jobs, with particular emphasis on SMEs across the EU, in which 18 million people are unemployed. Earlier in the year the Special EU Programmes Body had a successful open call for INTERREG applications, with 91 applications requesting over €217 million.

In the environment field, a great deal of progress has been made on the repatriation of illegally dumped waste, which I consider important. Education is a sector of great promise and the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and his counterpart are active in this regard. Among the work being undertaken is a joint attitudinal survey to inform cross-Border pupil movement and school planning and liaison between the two teaching councils, with the object of facilitating greater mobility of teachers across the island.

In health, there is ongoing co-operation on a minimum unit price for alcohol and proposals for a North-South alcohol forum to develop strategies on alcohol in both jurisdictions, on which the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy White, will be working. Planning is well advanced for the establishment of the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin; construction will commence in 2013 and the unit will be operational in 2016. The Deputy is also aware of the position regarding the A5 and A8 roads.

I refer also to the statement by the Minister for Finance that a great deal of work is ongoing with regard to research into illegal activity in diesel, which is so important for both economies. The aim is to have the capacity to trace movement of volumes of diesel and to have an ingredient that cannot be washed out in order to deal with the illegal activities which have gone on for a long time. Despite the current budgetary challenges, the Government remains fully committed to the PEACE III projects and will see that they continue.

There is a measure of work that each of the groups and bodies can do and I would like to see progress in this regard before we set out with a range of achievements in just setting up new bodies. To be honest, I am not aware of the difficulties that apply with regard to the Ulster Scots and Irish language Bill but that is an issue I intend to take up when I visit the North in the not-too-distant future. I also want to reflect on the issue of the Bill of Rights and examine the current situation in that regard. As I said, I spoke to the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, briefly on Thursday and Friday and discussed a number of issues I hope to follow through with him over the period ahead.

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