VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT TO OMAGH SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE OMAGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT TO OMAGH SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE OMAGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, ON 7 NOVEMBER, 1995
- I am delighted to be here in Omagh, the traditional county town of Tyrone. I would like to express my appreciation to the Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their kind invitation. I am also delighted to see representatives from a whole range of groups in the Omagh area present here this afternoon.
- I know that the residents of Omagh are proud of their beautiful town. And they have some justification. Omagh is the birthplace of such distinguished writers as Brian Friel and Ben Kiely. Another distinguished son of Omagh was the world famous singer and song writer Jimmy Kennedy.
- Omagh is set to gain further prestige when Queen's University establishes a new campus in the area. This campus, I understand, will offer degree courses in a diverse range of areas including computer science and emigration studies. The emigration studies course will be centred on the Ulster-American Folk Park and be able to draw on the park's experience of the long tradition of emigration from County Tyrone to North America. The outreach programme of Queen's University is an exciting and innovative development which I warmly welcome.
- I speak to you at a time of rapid economic and social progress in this island. The appalling violence of the last twenty five years has ended. We are now facing a new climate of hope that progress can be made in resolving the deep divisions within the island of Ireland and that people of all traditions that share the island will be able to live together freed from the threat of violence.
- With peace comes the prospect of an economic dividend and the opportunity to harness all our resources and talents in a more prosperous era.
- This part of County Tyrone has much to gain from the new peaceful situation, not least the potential benefits of cross border and cross community co-operation.
- We have begun the process of relearning that we have much in common. Both parts of the island face similar problems which invite us to join in a common response. There has been an increase in the pace of North/South economic interaction. Exports of goods from Northern Ireland to the South rose by over 25% in 1994 and two way trade between North and South, including services, is now worth approx. £1.5 bn. Cross-border investment has also risen and firms in areas as diverse as retailing, engineering and the food industry have realised the benefits of strengthening their businesses by operating on an all-island basis.
- The growth in North/South economic activity is a very welcome development. However, I think it is fair to suggest that we still have much ground to make up before the potential of a single island economy can be achieved for the mutual benefit of both parts of the island.
- Denmark and Finland are examples where individual companies operating in an open market the size of this island have achieved much higher levels of market penetration with consequent greater prosperity, including greater job creation, the elimination of duplication and the achievement of economies of scale.
- Commercial and business activity, North and South, while independent of any political process, nevertheless is making an important contribution to the development of closer understanding and goodwill among Irish people of all traditions on this island.
- Personal contact across the border is increasing and there are record numbers of passengers using both private and public transport for cross-border journeys. Tourist numbers travelling in both directions are also at record levels. The recent introduction of free cross-border travel for pensioners by the Irish Government has been a very welcome development in this area.
- Co-operation across the border, of course is not just the exclusive preserve of business organisations and individual firms. Omagh District Council has joined with other Councils on a cross-border basis to establish the Central Region Cross-Border Group which links District Councils on the Northern side with County Councils on the Southern side. The Omagh Council has also established special direct links with Sligo and Donegal Councils. The Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry have also been active through Chamberlink in establishing its own links with Chambers of Commerce in the South.
- In the social area there is also much to be gained by co-operation. There is a striking similarity in many of the shared problems we face, such as, high levels of long-term unemployment, the need for rural and urban regeneration and the need for social inclusion of large numbers of people who feel marginalised and excluded. Economic progress must also be of benefit to these groups which have not yet shared heretofore in the fruits of the strong economic growth on this island.
- The process of assisting inter-regional co-operation has been strengthened by the introduction on a European Union wide basis of the Inter Regional Co-operation Programme or the INTERREG programme. We are in the early stages of the INTERREG II which has the primary objective of assisting border areas to overcome development problems associated with peripherality. It is a practical demonstration of the Union's desire to assist these areas to achieve their maximum growth potential.
- The European Union special Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation which was adopted by the EU Commission on 26 July will also have a major cross-border dimension. This innovative programme of measures will involve the EU committing 300 million ecu in support to projects which will contribute to strengthening the peace process. A minimum of 15% of the funding for the Initiative will be spent on cross-border projects and there will a single Monitoring Committee for the Initiative.
- The EU special Initiative was designed to have a strong bottom-up approach with the aim of strengthening local community groups. I am delighted to hear that the Omagh area has experienced a mushrooming of community groups especially in the rural areas. This development reflects a new confidence among ordinary citizens that local groups can influence decision making which affects their lives. I believe that this is an extremely healthy development.
- This year's winner of the Nobel Prize for literature Seamus Heaney described the IRA cease-fire announcement as creating "the necessary space in which hope can grow". This statement which is equally true for the Loyalist cease-fire captures the very essence of the present situation. There is a great deal of hope about that we are facing a brighter future. We have a unique opportunity on this island to build on the ending of violence. The present favourable conditions must not be allowed to pass. We must all work together to make a better future for our children.