Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Question Nos. 16 to 24 together.

Through the Government's shared island initiative, we are working to engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future and to take up the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance co-operation on the island. Our objective is to work across the whole-of-government in all-island partnerships with the Executive, the United Kingdom Government and local authorities and civil society across the island.

The Government wants to see a fully-functioning Executive in place again as soon as possible, working for all of the people of Northern Ireland and working with us to deliver beneficial North-South co-operation and investment, which is a key dimension of our shared island approach. Last year, the Government allocated €50 million from our shared island fund to move ahead with significant cross-Border investments, including the Ulster Canal, the Narrow Water Bridge project and a major new North-South research programme. We also commenced an all-island strategic rail review with the Executive.

In October, the Government set out a comprehensive set of new shared island investment priorities, as part of the revised national development plan. This is backed by a total all-island commitment of more than €3.5 billion over the decade ahead, including €1 billion from the shared island fund, to invest for a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island for all. The Government also initiated the shared island dialogue series to hear from people across all communities, traditions and regions on how we can work for a shared future on this island in practical, meaningful ways.

In our approach, the Government is taking full account of the political complexity and challenges in Northern Ireland, and is working to listen to and engage with all communities and their concerns. We are fostering civic dialogue that is constructive, inclusive and focused on issues of shared concern for people across all traditions and communities, while also recognising challenges and different views.

In December, I launched a report by my Department on the first year of the dialogue series. It highlighted the views and suggestions raised across seven dialogue events which engaged more than 1,000 civic representatives and sets out how the Government is taking account of their contributions. A copy of the report has been sent to every Member of the Oireachtas. We are continuing the shared island dialogue series this year, moving now to in-person and regional engagements.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, participated in a dialogue on 20 January with more than 160 tourism stakeholders, from North and South, who discussed how to take up new opportunities in the sector on a shared island basis. The next shared island dialogue is on sport and takes place tomorrow, 24 February, at the national sports campus, with participation by Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, Deputy Jack Chambers, and with in-person and online attendance by people involved in sport across the island.

In the weeks ahead, there will also be launch events for the next shared island research publication by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, examining primary healthcare systems on the island, and by the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, which is finalising a comprehensive report to Government on shared island opportunities, following wide-ranging consultations over the last year. The Government will also convene further shared island dialogue engagements through this year, and continue to engage with all communities and traditions on the island as a core part of our shared island approach.

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