Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Fáiltím roimh an díospóireacht seo. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go bhfuil na tuairimí á nochtadh againn ó gach taobh den Dáil agus gur féidir linn comhoibriú leo siúd a bhfuil ar an taobh Thuaidh den teorainn. Tá sé tábhachtach, ó thaobh cúrsaí eacnamaíochta agus sóisialta de, go mbeidh an dá chuid den tír seo ag comhoibriú chomh mór agus is féidir leo.

I welcome this debate. I speak as Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and as somebody from a family whose members have had a variety of backgrounds, as with many people on this island. My father, for instance, had two brothers who fought on the side of Óglaigh na hÉireann in the War of Independence. On my mother's side, we had an uncle who fought in the Second World War and sadly died on the very last day of that war. We have such traditions in our house, as have many others. That is why progress has been made by successive Governments in bringing together the different strands in our society and the different views, North and South, the concentration being on bringing about initiatives and financial supports, particularly the €500 million promised by the Government - this is to roll over across a five-year period - and on significant and important infrastructure projects that will improve relationships and the economies in both the North and the South. That is the key to our future. Our history will never go away but we have to work with those who want to work with us. The Government is working extremely hard in that respect. The programme for Government involves working with all communities and traditions on this island to implement the Good Friday Agreement and to have multi-annual funding for strategic investment in new opportunities. There are new opportunities in health, for example. We should have a North-South cancer strategy. I understand from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, that the Department of Health has had a meeting on this and that there is a working group on it.

I particularly welcome a major project in my constituency, namely, that relating to the Narrow Water bridge. The bridge will have a major impact and help and support the communities on both sides of the Border in terms of tourism and access. This is very close to the hearts of my colleagues in the North, on the DUP and nationalist sides, and in the South. Therefore, there are many good things happening. They are very welcome. The N5 is exceedingly important, as is the concept of the university for the north west. These are all practical projects that will make a great difference to communities and society, North and South.

I appreciate go bhfuil an t-am beagnach caite anois. Tá súil agam go mbeidh níos mó ama againn don díospóireacht seo as seo amach but the debate today is positive and constructive. I have not heard anything from any speaker so far suggesting that we cannot all work together with our colleagues in the North. That is the job of my committee. That is what we hope to do, but nevertheless we need the unionists to participate more in our interaction, particularly with the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I am delighted to work on that.

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