Fine Gael Border Forum report on supporting employment and economic development in the border region
FINE GAEL PROPOSALS
TO SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN THE BORDER REGION
Fine Gael Border Forum
Table of contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Executive Summary
3.0 Context
4.0 The Border region
5.0 The policy proposals
5.1 A spatial strategy
5.2 A cross-border regional strategy
5.3 Funding infrastructural development
5.4 Company support
5.5 Support for SMEs
5.6 Transport infrastructure and capital programme
5.7 Agri food
5.8 Tourism
5.9 Training and education
5.10 Communications and energy
6.0 Conclusion
Executive Summary
The devastating impact of the 940 Quinn Insurance job losses highlighted core economic issues that afflict this region on both sides of its border. The political border renders both sides of the region peripheral to the main centres of economic activity on this island. The configuration of the Border region and its physical geography sets it apart from other regions on the island. Here there is no urban area of relative scale.
The 10 proposals put forward by the Fine Gael Border Forum respond to the border region’s job crisis. Each proposal is underpinned by Fine Gael’s conviction that the border region’s crisis can only be solved by consolidating existing jobs and developing the region’s potential. All of these proposals must be delivered within the context of the €3bn of cuts to stabilise the deficit in 2011 and our commitment to reduce government borrowing to below 3% GDP by 2014.
FINE GAEL PROPOSAL 1 – DEFINING THE CROSS BORDER REGION
Both administrations should agree on a defined cross border area and then facilitate the development of an integrated plan for regional development.
Fine Gael Proposal 2 – Multi Agency task Force
A Multi Agency Task Force for the region must
· Be given a clear concise brief and targets
· Receive clear and targeted objectives and,
· Produce an interim report within five months and a final report within 12 months
Fine Gael Proposal 3 - FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Infrastructural development is a continuing requirement in the region and innovative funding processes and structures should be developed to seek to fund development.
Fine Gael Proposal 4 – State enterprise Agencies
This State’s enterprise agencies and Northern Ireland’s enterprise agencies should cooperate to attract Foreign Direct Investment to the border region.
All State enterprise agencies operating at regional, town and county level should devise a proactive review programme for individual companies to support job retention.
County Enterprise Boards should support border entrepreneurship. Courses should be provided on business creation, market assessment, financing and personal profiling.
Fine Gael Proposal 5 – supporting small & medium enterprises
The commitment to 25% red tape reduction by government must be honoured. The government must act immediately to set this process in train.
All government charges that apply to business and local authority rates must be frozen for five years.
Reverse the cutbacks in funding for Skillnets companies.
Fine Gael Proposal 6 – TRANSPORT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
The suspension of the capital expenditure on the roads network announced must be reversed. The development of the national rail network should be examined.
Fine Gael Proposal 7 – AGRI FOOD
There must be a consistent and harmonised approach to animal health and welfare across the island of ireland as well as the implementation of fair trade legislation to ensure fair prices for produce.
the food labelling regime must be overhauled to promote transparency.
fine gael will fight to protect the family farm structure under the future common agricultural policy and will campaign for a single farm payment structure targeted at active producers.
Fine Gael Proposal 8 – Tourism
tourism must be recognised as a key provider of local economic development. new and existing tourism packages inm key sectors of the market must be further developed, such as language tourism and a9-county tourism package.
The introduction of a bilateral agreement on an irish/ british holdidy visa must be actively pursued.
Fine Gael Proposal 9 – Career development Support
FÁS should provide structured career counselling in targeted economic black spots, which should include:
· Skills assessment and aptitude profiling.
· Linking individual skills gaps with identification of skills and education opportunities – both part-time and full-time.
· Given the scale and intensity of the job losses, to run out of course or additional programmes as necessary and to offer new courses as required.
· Any time issues which act as a barrier to retraining or to education participation should be lowered so that newly redundant employees can immediately participate.
Fine Gael Proposal 10 – Communications and energy
A full review will be undertaken of the availability and development potential of broadband infrastructure and plans developed to utilise State owned companies’ investment in Broadband.
The Government must collaborate with providers to build interconnectors between existing proprietary networks and new ‘open access’ platforms.
This region’s proximity to the Moyle Interconnector and the planned EastWest Interconnector should be used to develop an export-driven energy production industry.
2.0 introduction
Fine Gael’s Border Forum met for the first time in Monaghan Town in February 2010. One hundred and fifty members of Fine Gael from seven counties gathered along with senior Northern politicians with a view to developing North-South initiatives as visualised in the Good Friday Agreement. This Forum gives currency to Border issues, and already it has begun to develop new policy initiatives designed to capitalise on the potential of this region.
The devastating impact of the 940 Quinn Insurance job losses highlighted core economic problems that afflict this region on both sides of its border. This is the first report of the Border Forum which focuses on economic and jobs issues for the region. While this report places emphasis on the economic needs of the region, the Forum is also examining other areas of cross border co-operation, including the sharing of health facilities.
The political border that runs through Ulster has afflicted the economic development of the province for ninety years. In recent decades the presence of the Quinn Group in the region has been a counterbalance to many of the problems that arise from this afflicted development. Its problems severely challenge the region.
The 10 proposals put forward by the Fine Gael Border Forum respond to the border region’s devastating job crisis. Each proposal is underpinned by Fine Gael’s conviction that the border region’s crisis can only be solved by consolidating existing jobs and developing the region’s potential. All of these proposals must be delivered within the context of the €3bn of cuts to stabilise the deficit in 2011 and our commitment to reduce government borrowing to below 3% GDP by 2014.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton hosted a very successful economic conference in Washington DC on the development of the Northern Ireland economy. This conference was attended by over 200 businesses from both sides of the border which resulted in some very successful business marriages. In 2011, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, plans to host a similar conference. Fine Gael believes that the border region should take a lead role in discussion on this economic development.
Enda Kenny TD Joe McHugh TD
Leader Chairperson
Fine Gael Fine Gael Border Forum
3.0 The Context
The devastating impact of the 940 Quinn Insurance job losses highlighted core economic issues that afflict this region on both sides of its border. The political border renders both sides of the region peripheral to the main centres of economic activity on this island. This has endured for nine decades and has generated relatively low levels of urbanisation.
Senior unionist and northern nationalist political leaders addressed the launch of Fine Gael’s Border For
Date: Wednesday 21 July, 2010. 
