Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for their positive, open, fair, even-handed and focused contributions to this important Bill. Northern Ireland is probably the most important issue on the island and I value the singular commitment of Senators to ensuring that we treat the matter in a fair, even-handed and sensitive manner. The Government salutes the House in its commitment to the efforts made by both Governments to bringing lasting peace to the island and equality of opportunity for economic advancement, particularly in Northern Ireland.

Various Senators raised a number of questions. Senator Ryan referred to the role of the Department of Finance. The operating costs of the Special EU Programmes Body are met by the Department and the personnel of its counterpart in Northern Ireland. While this is a financial instrument, the Department of Foreign Affairs has put it before the House. I am representing the Department of Foreign Affairs on the basis that it is responsible for activities relating to Northern Ireland and North-South bodies, but the Department of Finance has responsibility for funding. Any financial Bill or mechanism must have the signature and authorisation of the Minister for Finance.

The programme will be substantial. This excellent body, which is featured in the legislation, has outstanding staff and will have a budget of almost €1 billion. It will deliver value for money and is recognised across the European Union as one of the most important management authorities of any funding structure within the Union.

Senator Mooney raised the question of the Ulster Canal. As the Senator is probably aware, the Taoiseach announced recently that we are planning an ambitious project to restore and reopen the canal to create a major inland waterway for the Border region, which will serve as a focus for tourism and community development.

The first and largest infrastructural project managed by the North and the South was the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal, a major waterways programme initiated after we entered office in 1987 and piloted by the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. Those involved included the United Kingdom Government, the European Union, the International Fund for Ireland, the various Northern Ireland structures, the Office of Public Works and the ESBI.

The project cost almost £20 million, a significant amount of money at the time, but it created a considerable degree of goodwill in the North and the South. Working together with international support, we created infrastructure and new facilities. As a result of the major arterial works done, the project created an opportunity for local investment — in the public sector via local authorities and tourism bodies and in the private sector via private investors — to create a new waterways infrastructure that has made a significant economic difference to people in Northern Ireland, along the Border and throughout Ireland as far as the River Shannon. There is no reason that success cannot be replicated in the case of the Ulster Canal, a project to which we are committed.

I thank Senator Maurice Hayes for his comments and I salute him for his work and contribution as a shining beacon of positivity for Northern Ireland at every occasion. Senator Lydon referred to the constitutional position vis-À-vis the legislation. I assure the House that the Attorney General's office has been directly involved in the exchange of letters. The agreements are internationally binding and the legislation, including our management of it, is sound in the transposition of the agreements into domestic law. There is no difficulty in that regard.

Senator White raised the matter of reducing corporation tax in Northern Ireland to bring it into parity with the rate in the Republic of Ireland. Northern business people, political parties and others have argued that lowering Northern Ireland's corporation rate would help to stimulate growth in the North's economy. This is a matter for the British Government in the first instance. Any such proposals would have to be considered in the context of EU rules. The Government welcomes the fact that the Northern Ireland political parties together are actively pursuing this issue with the British Government.

Our Government warmly welcomes the level of engagement among the political parties in Northern Ireland to address the economic challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland. The Government is convinced that stronger economic growth in Northern Ireland can only be of benefit to all citizens on this island, North and South. We strongly support measures to foster such growth and are constantly working to ensure we can build an all-Ireland economy. We will need the co-operation of everybody, North and South, to achieve that.

Senator Jim Walsh referred to the fact that we have not addressed the issue of collusion and I welcome the fact that the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights is launching its report later this evening.