Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together.

As provided for in the programme for Government, we are continuing our shared island initiative to deliver benefits for the whole island and work with all communities for a shared future, as underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This involves unprecedented co-operative all-island investment, through our €1 billion shared island fund, hearing from all communities on how we can practically better share this island into the future and providing a stronger evidence base and analysis of the whole island through a programme of published research.

The initiative is being taken forward by Ministers and their Departments on a whole-of-government basis, driven and co-ordinated through the shared island unit, which remains in the Department of the Taoiseach. Over the past two years, the Government has allocated €191 million from the shared island fund to move ahead with long-standing commitments such as the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water bridge projects and to deliver new all-island investments. These projects respond to common interests and concerns for people right across the island, including climate action, biodiversity, regional development, innovation and deepening our societal connections.

Thus far this year, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, commenced a new €3 million shared island civic society funding scheme. Last week, on 19 January, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced a call for a new €15 million electric vehicle, EV, charging scheme. This will develop a network of publicly accessible, community-focused, EV charging points at sports clubs across the island of Ireland. The Government will seek to undertake significantly more all-island investment co-operation with a new Northern Ireland Executive and with the British Government.

The continuing absence of the Executive and the inability of the North-South Ministerial Council to meet adversely affect what is possible and there is an urgent need to get all of the political institutions of the agreement operating again, including the North-South bodies. I held constructive discussions with the leaders of the five main political parties in Belfast on 12 January and the Government will continue to work with the British Government and with the leaders of the parties in Northern Ireland, to do all we can to have the institutions back up and running as soon as possible.

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