North-South co-operation in Ireland made good progress when the power sharing executive was in office following the Belfast Agreement. But it has been relatively stagnant since the agreement was suspended - aside from the six stand alone institutions set up in certain sectors.
The economic, administrative and cultural benefits of such co-operation have been overshadowed and obscured by the ebb and flow of news about political developments. Such an oversight contradicts the official rhetoric about national unification subscribed to by all political parties in this State and both republican and nationalist parties in the North.
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) has now filled the gap with a useful and welcome policy document spelling out detailed proposals to enhance North-South co-operation in a number of diferent areas. Economic issues take centre stage, especially the proposal to harmonise corporation tax rates throughout the island at 12.5 per cent. This would be a radical step, helping to attract more investment on an all-Ireland basis. It would be difficult indeed to deliver upon - and perhaps the opportunity to do so was lost when the Belfast Agreement was negotiated.
Such a policy would set precedents for fiscal autonomy within the United Kingdom. This could be a risky venture for Northern Ireland leaders at a time when comparative statistics reveal it to be the most heavily subsidised and least taxed area of the UK and the region with a local economy most dependent on the State. This could suggest the idea of a trade-off between greater fiscal autonomy and a negotiated reduction of the transfers from London. There have been some hints by British ministers that this could be an attractive option if it forced the North's political leaders to face up to difficult choices.
There is much good sense in the wide-ranging proposals made by the SDLP for a more coherent link-up between the Republic's economic prosperity and the North's development efforts. The objective has the support of both governments and many business leaders, as is shown in recent co-operative ventures. It has reached only a fraction of its potential and could be extended well beyond the economic and related areas. Proposals included in this package include a new transport and infrastructure body, closer co-operation on research and development, culture, sport and tourism, the environment and energy sectors. Regional policy and agriculture have also more scope for common action.
These benefits are difficult to envisage without progress being made towards restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland. And the SDLP's proposals will be regarded as several steps too far by many unionists. But the proposals do have the great merit of concentrating attention on the real business of government.