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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 23, inclusive, together.

Our new programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to delivering for all people and all regions across our shared island over the next five years. The Government is committed to the unity of the Irish people and believes this can only be achieved through a sustained focus on and investment in reconciliation, developing the three sets of relationships recognised in the Good Friday Agreement to unlock the full potential of our island.

We have set out in the programme for Government significant new commitments and an ambitious agenda for building our shared island, which will be delivered on a whole-of-Government basis. This is backed by the Government's commitment to increasing the shared island fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035. Over €500 million has been allocated by the Government from the shared island fund to date, in addition to Government funding from other sources.

With sustained political commitment and a partnership approach there has been a clear step up in what all-island co-operation delivers, with major cross-border infrastructure projects like the Narrow Water Bridge and Ulster Canal now moving forward, ambitious new education, enterprise, tourism and environmental programmes commenced with the Executive, and, crucially, new funding and ways for people across all communities on the island to connect and work together more. The Government will push forward with the historic task of building a lasting reconciliation, implementing the largest ever programme of North-South research and investment, opening critical links and building further engagement and understanding.

My Department’s shared island unit will be strengthened over the coming months to co-ordinate the actions covered by the initiative across every Government Department. We are introducing targets for each Department to develop new shared island projects. The Government will deepen our partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, with the British and Irish Governments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, and work every day to harness the full potential of the agreement to build reconciliation between the different traditions of this island.

See this speech in context