Brendan Smith backs cross-border enterprise, rejects amnesty
Brendan Smith spoke on 18 May 2022 about the Good Friday Agreement, cross-border economic development, Brexit-related protocol issues and legacy matters. He welcomed research under the shared Ireland initiative, called for targeted enterprise centres in the central border area, and said there should be no amnesty for anyone who committed murder or was involved in any atrocity.
All-Ireland economy and shared Ireland research
He said one of the many benefits of the Good Friday Agreement has been the development of the all Ireland economy and welcomed research on economic and social opportunities under the shared Ireland initiative. He recalled asking that the studies include a subset with particular reference to development of enterprise in the central border area.
Enterprise centres and border infrastructure
He urged the creation of additional enterprise centres and workspace to address the high costs faced by start-ups and small enterprises, noting that Cavan and Monaghan county councils and local enterprise offices, together with colleagues north of the border, are preparing cross-border funding proposals. He warned the area is the most vulnerable part of the border region and needs new industrial infrastructure.
Good Friday Agreement, Brexit and the protocol
He emphasised that the Agreement was founded on both governments working together with all political parties in the north and criticised the current British government for digressing from that spirit, saying this is manifest in legacy proposals and in issues around the protocol. He acknowledged Brexit created the context for the protocol but expressed confidence that the issues can be resolved through proper engagement in the spirit of the Agreement.
Legacy, victims and accountability
He said he has met victims' groups and argued victims should be uppermost in consideration, opposing unilateral approaches to legacy. He stated there should be no amnesty for those who committed murder or were involved in atrocities and insisted all parties to atrocities should be accountable, with prosecutions where possible.
Documents and the Denton report
He said he and others are continuing to seek access to all relevant documents from the British Government and to facilitate the Denton report and the work of John Boucher as part of efforts to address legacy questions.
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One of the many benefits of the Good Friday Agreement has been the development of the all Ireland economy. That economy has evolved without any political sloveneering or any waving of flags or without any fanfare. Taoiseach, I welcome the research on economic and social opportunities on an all Ireland basis under the shared Ireland initiative. You may recall that at the Good Friday Committee, I mentioned that within that subset, that within those studies, there should be a subset with particular reference to the development of enterprise in the central border area. We need additional enterprise centres, we need workspace because of the huge cost there is for start-up businesses and for small enterprises in putting appropriate infrastructure and workspace in position. Cavanagh, Monaghan County Councils and local enterprise offices, along with our colleagues north of the border, are putting together proposals in relation to the need for funding on a cross-border basis to develop enterprise centres. I hope that that can happen. Economically, we are the most vulnerable part of the border region and we need new industrial infrastructure. Thank you. The Good Friday Agreement, and I make this a general point, Deputy Hawking and Deputy Smith as well raised this. The whole basis of the Good Friday Agreement in the peace process was on both governments working together, working with all the political parties in the north. And the current British government have digressed from that in spirit, it seems to me. That's manifest in the legacy proposals. It's manifest now in terms of the protocol. And Brexit created a context. The protocol was designed to try and deal with the unique situation of Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. Issues were raised. It can be resolved. I have no doubt about that. Those issues can be resolved. But there needs to be a proper engagement with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, which involves both governments working lock stock together with the political parties to achieve progress into the future. In terms of my attendance yesterday, in terms of Dublin and bombing, and Justice for the Gottenland, pay tribute to them, Deputy Hawking. Yes, we are continuing in terms of seeking access to all documents from the British Government, and also anything that we can do here in terms of facilitating the Denton report as well, and the work of John Boucher in relation to that. And equally, I have already articulated my concerns in terms of legacy. Again, that unilateral approach is not acceptable. I have met with the victims' groups. They should be uppermost in our consideration. And I don't believe there should be any amnesty for anybody who committed murder in Northern Ireland or for anyone who was involved in any atrocity. All parties to atrocities should be accountable. And if prosecutions can take place, prosecutions should take place. the president Chestnut crucifixion scrubbing Hawaii K K well
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