Elisha McCallion (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome news that An Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, is meeting with the joint First Ministers of the North, Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, next week. However, at this early stage, can I invite the new Taoiseach to visit Derry and the north west to discuss how the Irish Government can assist the regeneration of a region that, as I have previously outlined, has been devastated by partition and the Border?

I also invite the Taoiseach to meet with the North West Strategic Growth Partnership, a group that has been making invaluable contributions to bringing investment into the north-west region. Over the past number of years there have been welcome commitments to the tune of £300 million into the north west. This has come from the North's Executive, local councils, Ulster University Magee Campus and, indeed, the British Government.

I welcome the Irish Government's commitment of £75 million for the A5 road project as stated in the New Decade New Approach document, which, as everyone will be aware, re-established the North's Executive. The A5, I am sure Members will all agree, is a crucial and essential part of the regeneration of the north west. However, I would like to remind the Government of its previous commitments to fund 50% of the overall total of the A5. I look forward to working with the Government in seeing those commitments brought to bear.

I also welcome the specific commitments the Irish Government has made in the document towards third level education at Ulster University Magee Campus. An Taoiseach has spoken regularly about his belief in the important role played by education in people's lives. Ulster University Magee Campus is an excellent example of how an educational institution can indeed change people's lives. I look forward to working with him and all our Ministers to see how the Irish Government can contribute to the expansion of Magee University.

We are now at a stage where firm commitments are needed from the Irish Government, not just kind words of welcome. I ask that the Irish Government consider a financial package towards the already secured £300 million that has been agreed with the other partners. I look forward to working with the Government and all of the Ministers in the time ahead to see this contribution come to fruition.