Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work his Department has done in relation to identifying further areas for north south cooperation. [47230/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Promoting and expanding North/South cooperation is a priority for the Government. At the NSMC Plenary meeting which took place on 2 November 2012 in Armagh, I had the opportunity, together with my colleagues, to review progress across a range of areas of already existing North South cooperation. I have also been working with my Government colleagues in identifying further areas of North/South economic co-operation, and actively supporting them in pursuing these with the Northern Executive. This has been taking place both inside and outside the formal structures of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). Particular areas which have been identified include the agri-food sector; higher education; cooperation on reducing duplication which can ease budgetary pressures for both administrations; and conflict resolution. My officials have been working to advance the North West Gateway Initiative, which is of particular importance to that region. Consideration is also being given to working together to build trade links with Asian economies, especially China and India.

The areas of sport and tourism are further areas where we can seek to expand cooperation. Those two areas dovetail well. Tourism is vital to both economies and it is important to maximise the benefits of major initiatives such as the Titanic centenary, the Gathering 2013, and Derry’s City of Culture celebrations.

The Government is fully committed to exploring ways of increasing the level of North/South co-operation across the full range of activities for which we have responsibility and to broadening contact with all relevant organisations and groups in Northern Ireland.

We continue to make a case to our colleagues in the Northern Ireland executive for progress with regard to the Second and Third Terms of Reference of the St. Andrews Review which look to the future of North/South cooperation. In our view, this is now overdue. Most recently, I raised this issue with the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister when I met him in Belfast on Sunday.