Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

5 o’clock

The Government needs to grasp the potential for the all-Ireland economy, which already exists and has grown organically because business people and entrepreneurs have recognised the benefits and value of that economy in growing jobs and businesses while taking advantages on both sides of the Border. They are ensuring they can tap into both markets and we know the significance of that. We have seem much of the good work done by InterTradeIreland in scoping sectors that are ripe for all-Ireland development, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and software. As per InterTradeIreland's detailed report, these channels are ripe for all-Ireland development and economic integration, and they could clearly facilitate a large increase in expertise capacity and capabilities to the benefit of both North and South.

The Minister mentioned it in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and Irish unity and a Border poll - that is not what we are talking about. I believe it is inevitable and this is a step towards it but the all-Ireland economy can exist even without a change to the constitutional status of the North. What is required is an intergovernmental strategy to ensure the full potential of the all-Ireland economy is maximised, that it is supported and developed, that indigenous businesses are at its core and that we have a successful economy. This is really relevant to the constituency that I represent and that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle represents, where businesses need to be able to work on that basis and we need to harness that.

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