§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to seek the removal of all barriers occasioned by the border to the closest possible relationships in Ireland between north and south, through people-to-people contacts and cooperation across a range of policy areas, as part of a wider framework of European Community inter-regional co-operation involving the EC and the new Committee of the Regions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewIt is already my policy to promote cross-border co-operation at individual level, through bi-lateral contact, and in the wider European Community framework.
301WI have welcomed in particular the removal of barriers to trade with the creation of the single market and will continue to look for opportunities for the promotion of educational exchanges, cultural contacts, community development projects, tourism, export promotion and measures to improve the infrastructure of Northern Ireland's economy. These were issues addressed during last year's talks which focused on relationships among the people of the island of Ireland, as well as those within Northern Ireland and between the two Governments. I hope that it will soon be possible to hold further talks to continue to address these issues as part of a comprehensive agenda.