I welcome yesterday’s announcement on the shared island fund for cross-Border tourism initiatives. There are a number of initiatives. One of them is in Carlingford Lough, which is close to where I live, and there is a terrific project in Cuilcagh which goes across the mountains between Fermanagh and Cavan. That follows on from previous shared island funding allocated to the Wild Atlantic Way linking up with the Causeway Coastal Route on the north coast, right across to the beautiful island of Rathlin, in which Senator Black and I have a shared interest. That type of cross-Border initiative is very welcome. However, what is more important is the ability to bring the brands. The Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route project is very significant in the context of bringing the brands together on the island.

Tourism Ireland organises a wonderful marketing exercise right across the world for the island of Ireland as a consequence of the Good Friday Agreement. I had the pleasure of being with its representatives at events in New York, Chicago and Toronto last year. Tourism Ireland would have a much more cohesive marketing strategy if the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and the Hidden Heartlands brands were to be shared. A piece of work in that respect was undertaken last year by the department I represented at the time, along with that headed by the then Minister, Catherine Martin. Those brands are owned by Fáilte Ireland, rather than by Tourism Ireland, and it is responsible for their promotion. This is particularly important for the tourism industry north of the Border, which has been a huge success since the Good Friday Agreement. The pandemic actually led to a significant influx of visitors from south of the Border, many of them for the first time, all of whom were very welcome.

In light of the introduction of the electronic travel authorisation form by the British Government, very much against the wishes of people in the North and, in particular, people in the tourism industry, the amalgamation of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and the Hidden Heartlands brands would be a very welcome development. I ask the Leader to request that the Department and the Minister responsible would, at least, share a briefing with us on the status of that work. It was undertaken under the previous mandate. We also initiated an approach whereby both departments, North and South, and the three tourism agencies on the island were joined together in a shared piece of work. That collaboration gave rise to this discussion in respect of the brands. I very much hope we can get an update on the status of that work. As I stated, I very much welcome that intervention through the shared island fund to promote tourism across the island.

Is rud an-tábhachtach é seo. Foras na Gaeilge was established in 1999 under the auspices of the Good Friday Agreement and is responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the whole island of Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community and has a much longer history than Foras, having been established under Douglas Hyde. I am raising this issue because a half-day strike has been called today to challenge both Governments, North and South, to reverse funding cuts of €820,000 announced recently by Foras which have been caused by the DUP directly blocking a revised funding structure.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Government in the Republic provides 75% of the funding and the northern Government provides 25%. Neither Administration can increase or decrease their contribution without upsetting the percentage balance. Agreement was reached between the two finance ministers, however, to allow either party to increase their budget without affecting the contribution of the other, but this has been blocked by the DUP. This has resulted in a situation whereby the Government in the Republic has funding ready to go but one political party, which got just 21% of the popular vote in the Six Counties, is vetoing a 32-county funding increase which would not cost it even a penny. This will impact on services. I have been contacted by a number of community services on the ground regarding the direct impact on paying for their heat and rent and the groups they run in schools. It is having an enormous effect on communities and small businesses.

Earlier in February, a group of community organisations affected by the €822,000 in cuts undertook the Solution Now, Fair Investment campaign, which calls for both Governments to immediately adopt the new funding agreement, along with a commitment from Foras that, should any increase in the grant be received, the first priority will be a reversal to all these cuts, and that Foras na Gaeilge be provided with at least an additional €20 million, as outlined in the growth plan.

It is nothing less than a scandal that these groups feel they have no option other than to go on strike. Some of them may be outside the gates of Leinster House today. We need to stand together in solidarity to ensure the Irish Government puts pressure on its counterpart in the North to resolve this issue immediately. This will not cost the Northern Ireland Assembly a penny, but it is being blocked purely by tribal politics. Is náireach an chás é sin agus tá súil agam that we will reach some kind of agreement.