Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his UK and Northern Ireland counterparts have given consideration to the establishment of a special economic zone comprising the Dundalk and Newry areas; if he will provide his views on such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37200/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have been advised that the President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce submitted proposals last week to the Joint Secretariat of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh which included a proposal for a Newry/Dundalk Economic Zone.

While decisions about establishing economic zones would not be a matter for my Department, I continue to advocate, as indeed my Ministerial colleagues and I did at the recent plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, for expanded cross-Border and all-island economic co-operation, including at regional and local authority levels.

The feasibility of having the Newry Dundalk area recognised as a distinct economic zone would need to be considered in the wider economic, fiscal and public expenditure context and it would involve a number of my ministerial colleagues.