Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams is aware that the British Government has put forward a series of proposals concerning economic incentives to develop and strengthen the economy in Northern Ireland. While this is clearly a matter for the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, I welcome that and would like to see it progressed. In fact, I expect that in the preparatory period for the G8 summit in Fermanagh, to which I have been invited as Ireland currently holds the EU Presidency, we will have an opportunity to discuss this matter and see what can be moved forward in the context of that particular set of proposals. I know that the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, and the Northern Ireland Executive view this as an opportunity to move that package of proposals forward. That is an important element of strengthening the east-west relationship.

As regards the Deputy's question about how one knows the peace process is working, that is why the matter was raised by me directly with the US President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as with Senators and other members of the US Congress. Deputy Adams is aware of the discussions that have taken place there. He is also aware of the response from a European perspective in terms of the PEACE IV dividend.

Today, ECOFIN was able to make substantial progress on the preliminary problem of dealing with the deficit for the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, for 2012-13. The Tánaiste is engaged in the process of dealing with the approval by the European Parliament of the MFF or budget for the EU, which includes that PEACE IV dividend. I know the Deputy has welcomed it before and it will be of benefit, particularly to hard-pressed communities. I look forward to having an engagement with the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and, when possible, the British Prime Minister in respect of the proposals for economic stimulus in Northern Ireland. I have to assume that reflects, at least in part, the original decision made at St. Andrews. We will obviously have an opportunity to discuss that here again.

This matter has been raised on quite a number of occasions over the past two years. In that time, there have been at least 50 ministerial engagements in respect of the North-South Ministerial Assembly dealing with issues about Northern Ireland and cross-Border activities.

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