30 July 2009 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

'United on unity' at Magill Summer School

Dara Calleary and Martina Anderson

Dara Calleary and Martina Anderson

THE clear message emerging from this year’s Magill Summer School is that increased North/South co-operation is more vital than ever in face of the economic crisis, Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has declared.
She was speaking after addressing the summer school with Minister for Labour Affairs and Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary.
Martina Anderson said:
“The clear feeling in the room and the clear message from both myself and Minister Calleary is that increased co-operation is now more important than ever if Ireland is to emerge from the economic crisis.
“That is commonsense politics. Having two agriculture systems, two education, health, environment, transportation systems, etc, for an island population of less than six million people is economic madness.
“That was a view clearly shared by the minister and I am greatly looking forward to building on the good work that has already been done by the two administrations on this island.”
The Sinn Féin MLA said that the fact is that nobody who has analysed the outworkings of and benefits derived from the existing all-Ireland bodies could envisage anything other than expanding this co-operation and collaboration to other areas that would be beneficial to the efficient use of the combined resources available to the administrations, North and South.
“With the recommendations of ‘An Bord Snip Nua’ in the South and the expected cutbacks in spending on public services in the North following the Westminster election, now is a prudent time to explore ways in which delivery of projects across the board on an all-Ireland basis can be progressed in order to assist economic recovery.”

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland