Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I are actively engaged along the lines he suggested.

I stress the importance of the engagement of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock. For the first time in the history of the State we have a Minister with dedicated responsibility for cross-Border trade, economic development and commerce matters. He has on several occasions been actively engaged in Northern Ireland in Border areas. Next week he will attend a very important Chamber of Commerce initiative.

I take Deputy Smith’s point about the engagement of civil society in the advancement of economic and social issues. The Good Friday Agreement provides for the establishment of the North-South consultative forum appointed by the two administrations and representative of civil society, comprising social partners and other members with expertise in social, cultural, economic and other issues. The Deputy is right that we need to engage civil society. We need to ensure that we maximise trade, commerce, economic development, job creation and cross-Border trade over a wide range of issues. I assure the Deputy of my positive engagement in that regard and the positive and active engagement of the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock.

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