Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all share the view that with the peace process operating well the general economy improves as a consequence. That is why, in order to keep these things very much in focus, President Obama said in his contribution in Belfast that the United States will continue to work with the British Government, Irish Government, the Executive and the Assembly in the context of support for Northern Ireland, and that is an important factor in all of this. That is why Europe has recognised the importance of the inclusion of the Peace IV moneys; it is €150 million but it is for fragile communities and that is important, and we hope that it comes through under the MFF. We can see the connections with the Narrow Water Bridge project and the economic impact of commerce, trade, tourism and community facilities by virtue of the investment in that project of €16 million from Europe, Northern Ireland, the Government and Louth Local Authority We can see the evidence of the value of having the peace process operating very much up-front with the Irish Open last year with young McIlroy and the impact of that and the good feeling it generated in terms of tourism and the hospitality industry and people getting to know the Northern Ireland area and all the facilities there.

Derry has been transformed. It was a privilege to walk across the Peace Bridge again last weekend and to see the transformation of the old military barracks, which is a massive site that contains enormous potential for cultural activities and artisan features. I was informed that more than 1 million people have walked across that bridge in the past two years and that speaks for itself. The city of culture presentation given by Ms McCarthy, who I mentioned earlier, was fascinating in terms of the potential it highlighted and added to that the Fleadh Cheoil to be hosted there later in the year. All of the north west is working hard with the citizens of Derry and its environs to make this a real success.

When I spoke to Prime Minister Abe from Japan, he told me it was first time a Japanese Prime Minister ever came to the republic since we achieved independence but he was anxious to be associated with Northern Ireland and he invited the First and Deputy First Minister to go to Japan. Japanese investment of 400 jobs in Belfast speaks for itself. These are opportunities for the communities and the economy of Northern Ireland to build on the Good Friday Agreement and on the peace process, and that is important. We should keep all these factors very much to the fore.

The success of the G8 at Lough Erne in Fermanagh was outstanding. We had the impact of the meeting of the leaders of the eight most industrialised countries in the world and they expressed that they were very happy at being able to visit Northern Ireland to see the facilities there and get a short-term flavour of the personality and hospitality of the people. That generated a great deal of coverage internationally and that is the best way to promote Northern Ireland and the island as a whole. There were literally thousands of people in the backup entourages of those eight leaders staying in Northern Ireland and south of the Border which was of benefit to the general economy. They are all pointers to what can be achieved if everybody focuses on the future of Northern Ireland - that the young student, to whom Deputy Regina Doherty referred, spoke about - its people and the communities and the integration towards that objective of growing the economy is where we should be focused. We will support that in every way that we can and at every conceivable turn of the road.

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