I will stick to the rules. There is a commitment, on page 140 of the programme for Government, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the interests of the people north and south of the Border. What is being done in respect of the ongoing and planned projects and innovations in the Border region? What discussions have the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance had with EU officials in respect of cross-Border projects post 2020 in order to ensure that PEACE, INTERREG and other transterritorial programmes will be available in a post-Brexit scenario? Any vacuum or lack of a clear indication of new funding support and delivery mechanisms has an impact on local government, statutory agencies and many community organisations that want to plan, and are planning, many crucial and necessary projects. Without an additional programme, we are in trouble.

Both INTERREG and PEACE funding are of enormous value to Northern Ireland and the Border counties. The question the Deputy has asked is a very pertinent one. We have had initial discussions on the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which is the next seven-year budget for the EU which will run from 2021 onwards. As part of that, it has been agreed in principle that there will be a new programme called PEACE PLUS, which will replace the PEACE programmes which preceded it. There will still be funding for Border projects and projects in Northern Ireland. I am endeavouring to secure the ongoing inclusion of Northern Ireland, and indeed Wales, in INTERREG. It is very much a part of our negotiating status for the talks on the MFF.