Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the shared island forum. It is 11 o'clock. At 11.05 a.m. the Taoiseach will take to the floor of St. Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle where he will give an address to the shared island forum. It is significantly important in the context of the shared island initiative. Everyone in this House knows it has been an enormous commitment by him, shared by the Tánaiste. He is fiercely proud of that achievement and initiative and he needs all the support he can muster for it. There is great potential and there are great opportunities. This has all come off the back of the Government's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. Peace and prosperity must yield results and the Taoiseach's commitment to this dedicated focus on the all-island initiative is good. There is also the Government's commitment. The current Government has reaffirmed and recommitted itself to its ambitious agenda for this area in building on the vision of our shared island but also the potential. There is a great old expression, "you win the hearts and you win the minds". Geography and boundaries do not divide people. If we find the common thread, common denominator and the humanity, we will see this island prosper and realise its full potential.

I am always conscious of agriculture. We are on an island and the potential for agriculture, food and innovation is enormous. It is a multifaceted approach and one I admire greatly. We all support it. A substantial amount of money has been committed to it for the foreseeable future. I ask that either the Taoiseach or Tánaiste come to the House at an appropriate time when they have time in their schedules to tease it out and give further momentum to this. I commend the Taoiseach and wish him well today as he embarks on this meaningful forum that will go on all day today in St. Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle.