Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have had more meetings with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive over the past year than at any other time since the establishment of the North-South Ministerial Council.

Over the past year alone the Tánaiste and Government Ministers and I have met with members of the Northern Ireland Executive on over 50 occasions. As I have previously stated we will continue to work closely with the British Government and with political representatives in Northern Ireland to identify ways to help to address not just the current crisis but its underlying causes. In this regard the Tánaiste is in regular contact with political leaders in the North. At his most recent meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, on 11 February they agreed to continue working together to support the parties in Northern Ireland in addressing both the underlying and immediate causes of the violence seen in recent months on the streets of Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. They also urged strong support for the PSNI and the Parades Commission as the summer loyalist marching season approaches.

When he last met the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister he made clear that the Government will provide all support necessary for Executive Ministers and local politicians to find solutions to the current situation. This is about building relationships between communities which have been divided for so long, which takes courage and persistence. It also requires respect and tolerance for different traditions to achieve consensus, often around the difficult issues of flags and symbols. It is also about equality and a determination to end ongoing sectarianism which persists despite all our best efforts.

Let me again emphasise that security and co-operation on the island has never been stronger. This was discussed when I met on 18 January with David Ford, Northern Ireland Minister for Justice and leader of the Alliance Party, some of whose members were targeted by loyalist groups in the aftermath of the decision by Belfast City Council.

The violence that we have witnessed is of broad concern across society, including business and industry who are rightly concerned about the negative impact at home and the damaged reputation abroad. The British Government shares our concern regarding the violence and the consequential damage to Northern Ireland's international reputation and the cost to local business and tourism prospects. The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland want to see an end to street violence. The violent protests and riots have caused major damage to community relations, severely curtailed economic activity in the pre-Christmas period and conveyed a deeply negative impression of Northern Ireland to international audiences, countering the positive campaigns to attract tourism and investment and potentially undermining the gains from last year's positive events. All of that potential should not be lost due to the actions of a small number of determined individuals or groups.

This crisis will not be resolved other than by a cross-party, cross-community response. I hope that party leaders in Northern Ireland will shortly agree on a framework for talks to address the issues that have arisen in relation to flags and symbols. Moving forward, the focus of political leadership in Northern Ireland should be on maintaining and creating jobs through economic recovery, in which inward investment and tourism have such a crucial

role. As I have already said the Government is ready to support the Executive and political leadership in Northern Ireland in whatever way we can.

There has been valuable progress in co-operation through the North-South Ministerial Council and the North-South implementation bodies. The institutional framework of the NSMC is robust and works well. The meetings are always positive as we continue to seek ways of developing North-South co-operation across a range of agreed areas to the mutual benefit of all the people on this island. The joint communiques that issue following each plenary meeting only give a sense and summary of the real engagement that takes place. I would, of course, like to see more progress being made. There is greater room for further co-operation. However, I am satisfied that continual progress is being made through the programme of ministerial meetings that takes place between plenary sessions.

Across a range of issues, the NSMC is facilitating economic and social sector activities on a cross-Border, all-island basis. Ministers have reiterated their commitment to practical co-operation on economic co-operation and to explore areas where potential cost savings might be achieved. The potential benefits of developing markets for both jurisdictions has been recognised.

In the area of transport, Ministers have agreed on a detailed timetable for the drafting, passage and enactment of parallel legislation, North and South, by 31 December 2014 to allow the mutual recognition of penalty points across Ireland. In the tourism area, Tourism Ireland is currently rolling out major promotional campaigns for The Gathering Ireland 2013 and the UK City of Culture 2013, which is Derry.

InterTradelreland has introduced two new programmes Challenge and Elevate which support SMEs and micro businesses to grow and develop through innovation and exporting against difficult market conditions in both jurisdictions. They have also overseen an increase of over 50% in European funding for research and development for the period from November 2011 to July 2012 for North-South projects.

In the field of environment, work has now commenced on the repatriation of illegally dumped waste at a further two sites in County Tyrone. Education is a sector of great promise. Among the joint 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 objective of facilitating full mobility of teachers across both jurisdictions. In health, there is ongoing collaboration on minimum unit price for alcohol and proposals for a North-South alcohol forum to develop strategies in both jurisdictions on alcohol misuse. Planning is well advanced for the establishment of a radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin. Construction will commence this year with the unit being operational in 2016.

Both the Irish and the British Government remain strongly committed to improving economic ties on the island of Ireland also. The joint statement signed last March between Prime Minister Cameron and I envisages a comprehensive programme of engagement between the two administrations, including close bilateral engagement between respective departments and regular meetings at Secretary General-Permanent Secretary level.

A series of bilateral meetings have taken place across a range of policy areas since then. A plenary meeting of Secretaries General and Permanent Secretaries took place in November in London and considered progress to date, mapped out future work as well as looking ahead to the annual review summit in 2013. The joint economic study currently underway also takes into account the North-South dimension of the all-island and east-west relationship. The main findings emerging from the study will also inform the summit meeting in March with Prime Minister Cameron. While the agenda has yet to be formalised we will also be discussing the developments in the North as well as other issues.

I met for over an hour with the SDLP in Government Buildings last Thursday. In the words of Alasdair McDonnell, MLA, our discussions were honest, positive and constructive and we covered a range of issues across the political spectrum including the forthcoming parades season.

I listened very carefully to what he and his colleagues had to say in the aftermath of the recent protests and disturbances and to their assessment of how the Executive is functioning under these pressures. We jointly spoke of the challenges and opportunities for the island at this current time.

I reassured him of my intention to continue to work together with the British Government as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. I also said that at my meeting with Prime Minister Cameron in London next month we will discuss these issues, as well as advancing the ambitions of the Good Friday Agreement. This combined effort, along with the support of our friends in the US, including President Obama and his Administration, is aimed at ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for all. We are nearly 15 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and we need to get beyond difficulties such as contentious parades. I want to assist the Northern Ireland Executive in its efforts to grow the economy and improve social conditions for all communities there and along the Border counties.

Finally, I briefed the SDLP on our successful efforts to secure €150 million for a PEACE IV programme, as well as our co-operation with the North on Ireland's Presidency of the EU. The PEACE IV programme was signed off during the discussions on the MFF at the recent meeting in Brussels. I want to look at ways in which strengthening North-South relations can reap economic rewards. The SDLP will also meet the Tánaiste later this week and I welcome this renewed focus between us.

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