Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find it somewhat incredible that the Taoiseach was not made aware of the investment announcement in Downing Street by the British Prime Minister, the Northern Ireland First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. The essence of the Good Friday Agreement and the processes around it was that the British-Irish dimension would be central to it at all times, as well as the totality of relationships, such as the North-South relationship, the British-Irish relationship and the relationship between the different traditions in the North. The Taoiseach said that perhaps his officials were informed in advance of the announcement but it was not brought to his attention. That is an incredible and very worrying development which reflects a distancing of the Republic in engagement with the issues.

I am also surprised the Deputy First Minister went along with this, because it has a certain partitionist resonance to it. We have made our contribution to economic development in the North with road network developments and other initiatives. The concept of the all-island economy is important for jobs both North and South. In the future, will the Taoiseach ensure there is greater engagement between the British and Irish Governments on such initiatives and announcements?

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