Northern Secretary Peter Hain yesterday urged the political parties in the North to present a common front at a crucial meeting next week with British chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown to discuss the financial package available to underpin the St Andrews Agreement.
Speaking in Dublin after a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, Mr Hain and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern emphasised the commitment of both governments to a major programme of economic development for the North.
Mr Hain said that when the Northern parties met Mr Brown next week it would make sense for them to present a common front to argue the case for a financial package.
He expressed the hope that if they could come together on this issue, they could also come together in the preparation for government committee as soon as possible.
Mr Ahern stressed the mutual benefit for people on both sides of the Border of a peace dividend to support the St Andrews Agreement.
He said he had gone with Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to meet Mr Brown during the summer to discuss the financial package that might be available if the Northern parties could agree on a political solution.
"There is an understanding that if the parties do what is required of them the two governments will be willing to assist them in whatever way they can," said Mr Ahern, who added that the National Development Plan, to be published in January, would feature a strong element of cross-Border infrastructural projects.
The joint communique issued after yesterday's meeting in Iveagh House in Dublin welcomed what it termed "the important study on the all-island economy" which is due to be published tomorrow and endorsed its key recommendations based on a clear and strong economic rationale for all-island economic activity.
"As both economies North and South face challenges relating to the increased pace and intensity of global competition, all-island collaborative action is identified as an important source of competitive advantage," said the communique.
It said that the study would set out high-level goals in infrastructure; science, technology and innovation; trade and investment promotion; labour market and skills and enterprise and business development; all areas where co-ordinated policy intervention would deliver benefits to citizens and businesses North and South.
It added that the two governments, along with key stakeholders, would jointly develop a more detailed programme of work in each of the areas identified, as well as looking at further opportunities for co-operation in the education and health sectors.
"Recognising the significant practical benefits of all-island economic collaboration, the two governments look forward to this work forming an important part of the agenda of the restored institutions," it said.
