All Ireland discussions on economy
other small step towards the creation of an all-Ireland economy was taken this week with the first meeting between Leinster House and Northern Assembly Committees. The meeting was held on Tuesday 16 January, between the Leinster House Enterprise & Small Business Committee and the Assembly Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee.
Sinn Féin Vice-President and West Tyrone Assembly member, Pat Doherty, who is the chairperson of the Assembly committee who hosted the joint meeting, said this week: ``This is an opportunity to look at how things are done in Dublin and, perhaps more importantly, is a vital opportunity to see how we improve cooperation.
``Within the area of Enterprise, Trade & Investment we have already seen a lot of activity on an all-Ireland basis. The announcement last week of research into developing an all-Ireland energy market was a positive and pro-active step by both Reg Empey and Mary O'Rourke.
``Discussions will include areas of common concern to both committees, the North/South trade body, InterTradeIreland, small business, the Euro and co-operation between the North's Industrial Development Board and the IDA. ``The arguments for maintaining partition are being undermined from the most unlikely of areas. Business leaders north and south are beginning to see the logic for an all-Ireland economy.''
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)