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We live in an information society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity1. The public library service is the largest information infrastructure on the island of Ireland. Determining library usage is notoriously difficult and particularly so on an all-island basis given the different methodological considerations. Looking purely at visit counts there were 14.3 million visitors to the 353 branches in the South during 2007. A standard has been set in Northern Ireland to have 45% of the total population as users of the 111 branches in the North by 2008.
Continue reading Public sector co-operation on the island of Ireland: Public Libraries
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The island of Ireland has a total population of just over 6.5 million people separated by an internal border stretching over 470 km. It is well documented that the creation of the border in 1922 divided the island into two insular and centralised states whose institutions and political culture developed back-to-back 1. For many years, the two Health Departments on the island would not have considered each other’s perspectives in the course of their daily work, planning or service provision – although a mere 160 km apart.
Continue reading Your guide to co-operation in Health Services
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The future belongs to those who collaborate1. However despite the scale of investment in cross-border co-operation we still do not have an overall picture of the spread or the strength of collaborative arrangements developed on the island. Understanding the formal and informal linkages within each distinct sub-region—and the organisations that promote such linkages—is key to realising the economic and social benefits that accompany our new era of Peace.
Continue reading Location, location, location – your guide to the location and strength of cross-border collaboration
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INTRODUCTION
Co-operation on the island of Ireland extends far beyond the highly regarded and often publicised work of the EU Peace and Interreg Funding Programmes. Since 1994 the government development plans in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland1 for EU Structural Funds have included a common chapter or agreed text. The aim of the ‘Common Chapter’, which is described as a framework for co-operation, is to encourage increased co-operation between Ireland and Northern Ireland, where it is mutually beneficial to do so.
Continue reading Overview of North/South and cross-border co-operation in the “COMMON CHAPTER”
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The creation of the Irish border in 1920 divided the island of Ireland into two insular and centralised states whose institutions and political culture developed back-to-back. Even then the border proved ‘permeable’ and inter-governmental and voluntary society contacts (primarily sporting, cultural and religious organisations) continued albeit on a fragmented and occasional basis. A third and smaller area was academic collaboration where the universities collaborated or their individual staff came together on research projects.
Continue reading Your guide to WHO is involved in North/South and cross-border co-operation
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The economic contribution of agriculture to the ‘island economy’ generally and the two economies, North and South, separately, has been declining in recent years. Comparison of statistics for 2005 showed that agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 2.0% in the South and 1.3% in the North of total Gross Value Added. However, as a source of employment and in social terms the sector remains a crucial one as 6.1% of the Southern and 4.1% of the Northern labour market were employed in agriculture in 2005.
Continue reading Overview of North/South and cross-border co-operation in AGRICULTURE
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INTRODUCTION
In October 2006 the two governments published their joint vision for economic collaboration on the island. This British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) study, which was led by InterTradeIreland1, outlines the challenges, rationale and benefits for joint government intervention and proposes co-ordinated policy intervention in R&D, skills enhancement, joint investment opportunities and support for trade development. In January 2007 the publication of the Irish National Development Plan 2007-2013 provided details of a range of planned North/South projects and set out, for the first time, proposals for Irish Government investment in new North/ South projects and initiatives for mutual benefits. In March 2007, as part of the drive to restore the Assembly in the North, the UK chancellor Gordon Brown promised a review of differentials in corporation tax rates between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Continue reading Overview of North/South and Cross-Border Co-operation in ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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The tourism industry is never far from the news. Sometimes it is the opportunities provided by large events such as the St. Patrick’s festival, the Ryder Cup golf tournament, the Rally Ireland stage of the World Rally Championship or new arrangements such as the ‘Open Skies’ arrangements. Alternatively, it is the threats to tourist numbers such as foot-and-mouth, terrorism or rising oil prices. Generally it is because tourism remains a crucial contributor to the economies, North and South, and particularly to local economies.
Continue reading Overview of North/South and cross-border co-operation in TOURISM
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The development of transport infrastructure and policies is a critical area for all-island co-operation. Recent newspaper reports and the all-island economic study of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Council have highlighted the potential for co-operation on the rolling out of transport infrastructure. Great air access onto the island, better cross-border primary roads and improvement to ports infrastructure have all been mentioned for possible joint North/South financing and planning.
Continue reading Overview of North/South and cross-border co-operation in TRANSPORT
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