Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My officials maintain contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and they enjoy a good working relationship. There is considerable co-operation that people do not see. People are working closely together to avoid excessive duplication. A great example in the arts is the cross-Border youth orchestra, which is a very successful organisation made up of young people from both sides of the Border. They work closely together to produce good content and they travel to the UK and the USA. Although they work under the radar, they are very effective. The orchestra is funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. There are good examples of which we do not often hear. I think we should hear about them more often.

See this speech in context