Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts he has had with his Northern Ireland counterpart; the issues discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32206/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I had a very productive meeting with my Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Maria Eagle M.P., on 1 June at InterTrade Ireland's offices in Newry.

The Chairman and Chief Executive of InterTrade Ireland briefed Minister Eagle and I on the Body's programmes and activities and its overall strategy to enhance the development of the all-island economy. InterTrade Ireland is supporting a wide range of actions that offer businesses the opportunity to address a larger all-island market and to engage in inter-firm co-operation. Its key strategic objective is to increase the number, effectiveness and value of all-island trade and business development networks. The work of InterTrade Ireland is an example of the practical benefits accruing from North/South cooperation under the Good Friday Agreement.

Minister Eagle and I reviewed progress on the comprehensive study, which was announced earlier this year by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the auspices of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The remit of the study is to identify areas for further co-operation in the development of the all-island economy and provides an unprecedented opportunity to identify and take forward new initiatives. The study is expected to be completed shortly. Arising from a progress report submitted to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 25 July there has been agreement to enhance co-operation in the areas of trade promotion, labour market skills forecasting, international collaboration in science and technology, and business development through knowledge exchange.

At our meeting Minister Eagle and I gave our full commitment to the North West Gateway Initiative, which will provide a strategic action plan to further develop the North West region of the island of Ireland. Both Governments are committed to a joint approach to the development of the North West that is focused on enterprise development, employment, skills, spatial planning and infrastructure.

I will lead a trade mission to Canada next week and I am pleased that a number of Northern Ireland companies are taking part in the mission. The Mission has been organized in co-operation between Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland and Minister Eagle is accompanying the Northern Ireland companies. I look forward to a successful trade mission for the island of Ireland.