Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he is promoting North South cooperation and engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27579/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This year marks the 25th anniversary of North South cooperation under strand two of the Good Friday Agreement, which takes place through the vehicle of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the work of the six implementation bodies - Waterways Ireland; the Food Safety Promotion Board, Safefood; the Trade and Business Development Body, InterTrade Ireland; the Special EU Programmes Body; The Languages Body, which incorporates Foras na Gaelige and the Ulster Scots Agency; and the Loughs Agency.

Together with my Cabinet colleagues, on 8 April last I participated in the first in-person plenary meeting of the NSMC since 2020, held in NSMC Secretariat offices in Armagh. The NSMC, and the work of its implementing bodies, underpins practical, everyday cooperation between the two jurisdictions on the island, helping deliver better outcomes for all – including in health, in education, safer food and better infrastructure. The positive atmosphere of the plenary and subsequent sectoral meetings is demonstrative of the ambition for enhanced cooperation, which is being taken forward across Government.

The Shared Island Initiative, which I established as Taoiseach, is an integral part of the Government’s agenda for promoting dialogue and increased economic and social connectivity among communities North and South of the border. The Initiative aims to deliver investment of up to €1 billion up to 2030 in infrastructure and cross-border programmes.

In February the Government announced the largest ever contribution to cross-border initiatives. We made a €600 million commitment to the upgrading of the A5 and moved ahead with plans for the construction of the Narrow Water Bridge, a powerful symbol and physical connection between North and South. Just last week, I attended the opening of Phase Two of the restoration of the Ulster Canal.

The Shared Island Initiative is also investing in programmes to tackle educational underachievement and to empower entrepreneurs. My Department is currently inviting applications from civic society organisations for a third round of funding for cross-border projects under the Shared Island Civic Society Fund.