Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his comprehensive reply and for pursuing this useful initiative in the way that he has done. I merely want to support that. I ask that he will ensure that all levels of community interaction that can be facilitated will be facilitated to establish trust between the communities there and, of course, between North and South in terms of what might be seen as a threat by some in some communities and might be seen as an admirable objective by others. I support his commitment to continue working at the project in such a way as to bring the people of this island together. The last point I want to make is that we also need to undertake a certain amount of education in this part of the island, with particular reference to the 62% of Irish people who said they were in favour of closer co-operation but were against paying for it.

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