Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Tánaiste for that reply. For sure, the North-South Ministerial Council is one of the great institutions under the Good Friday Agreement to advance co-operation on the island and to embed that co-operation between the two administrations. In the communiqué that was published, there is the sheer fact that was pointed to with regard to the investment that has been made, such as the greenway investment and the soon-to-be-started Dublin to Derry air link. The A5 being stalled in the courts is obviously an issue but that is something I know the Government is fully behind.

I would love to see the Government and the Executive move to a place of expanding those areas already identified in the Good Friday Agreement. For example, here is the whole area of skills, apprenticeships and further education. We have launched an all-Ireland apprenticeship model in the past few days but I think there is a massive opportunity for us there in terms of attaining the all-Ireland labour market. We need to continue to deepen our co-operation in healthcare, specifically in the area of public health, which is complimentary to what the Tánaiste stated on emergency management. Then there is public transport and having a truly connected public transport system across both jurisdictions.

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