North-South co-operation cannot continue to be held hostage to the political stalemate in Northern Ireland, SDLP leader Mark Durkan said today.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan:
Speaking at the launch of a party campaign "North South Makes Sense", he said the case for working together stood on its own and did not require political justification.
"Our economies, North and South, face common challenges, so it makes sense to find common solutions," said Mr Durkan. Over the next 10 years alone up to €100 billion could be spent on the island's infrastructure, he said.
"That is an unprecedented opportunity. We need to plan together if we are going to make the most of it.
"There is a serious danger that the biggest infrastructure spending ever undertaken on this island will be done back to back with billions spent without co-ordination," said Mr Durkan.
He said the two parts of the island could do more together to get more together in terms of both more strategic outcome and procurement and delivery gains.
"Other obstacles too between North and South must be tackled - some irritating, some damaging - all affecting people in their daily lives. From roaming charges to banking charges. From education to taxation," he added.
The party, he said, had proposals for new all-Ireland actions and cross-border delivery. They included a new Transport and Infrastructure body, an all-Ireland Research Alliance, Marketing and Investment co-operation, a Public Safety body and a joined-up anti-poverty strategy.
When it came to such proposals, said Mr Durkan, the real question had to be 'why not?' rather than 'why?'.
Over the next few weeks he will be travelling throughout the island promoting the campaign, having meetings with ministers, political leaders, academics, social partners, community representatives and ordinary people.
"We want to convince ordinary people of the benefits to be gained by co-operation, and we want to hear their ideas for new areas in which we can work together," said Mr Durkan.
"We want people also to realise the price being paid for not working together - we want co-operation to be expanded and extended so that it can reach its true potential."
PA