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Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Taoiseach Micheál Martin urges calm after Fianna Fáil TD says British Army never shot Irish civilians
He was reacting to the claim by one of his own backbenchers, Cathal Crowe of Co Clare, that British Army troops never shot any civilians in Ireland – for which he has since apologised. But Mr Martin, who revealed Mr Crowe contacted him to express his regret at embarrassing the Fianna Fáil party, said people should 'calm down'. Commenting at the Bloom festival, Mr Martin said there has been 'a bit of an over-the-top reaction', in response to Mr Crowe's absolution for the British Army. 'We don't need any lessons in terms of Northern Ireland and the pain and the violence – and yes, the British state was responsible for Bloody Sunday, Ballymurphy, and much, much more,' Mr Martin said. 'I think he was talking in the context of Gaza. Thank God that Gaza never happened in Northern Ireland to the same extent, although one person killed is one person too many. 'As far as I'm concerned, there was horrendous violence in Northern Ireland perpetrated by the State and by the Provisional IRA and by Loyalists like the Glenanne gang. 'There were reprehensible murders, and shocking bombings like Enniskillen, Birmingham, the Dublin-Monaghan bombing, Belturbet, and right across Britain. 'A lot of innocent people were murdered and slaughtered by the IRA. People in Derry and in Ballymurphy were murdered by the British army. We resolved that through a peace process and through reconciliation. 'When I spoke with [US] president [Donald] Trump, and he referred back to the viciousness of what went on in Ireland over 30 years, I made the point to him: We managed to build a peace out of all that vicious violence. 'Peace can work, and the same needs to happen in the Middle East.' Mr Martin said Mr Crowe had been anxious to correct his remarks after speaking 'off the cuff'. 'Cathal Crowe is a very solid TD and doesn't need to be reprimanded. I think people need to be careful about overreacting here. 'We have a peace process in Ireland that is sustained, and we are at peace with Britain. I'm building reconciliation in Northern Ireland through the Shared Island programme, so there's no need to be re-fighting old wars.'
Irish Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Republic and Northern Ireland must co-operate to attract foreign direct investment to border counties, says Taoiseach
The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland must work together to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI), Micheál Martin has said, following the publication of a key economic report. Border counties could become home to 'very significant' foreign investment benefiting from low taxes in the Republic, but, crucially, with ready access to Northern Ireland's labour pool, even though there are tax issues to navigate. 'The real challenge I've always found, which hasn't really been grasped, is whether we could have a joint FDI offering,' the Taoiseach told an Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) conference, though he questioned the interest displayed by state agencies in the past. 'I think there has been a real lack in trying to pull that together. It's not easy and there are challenges, but I am not sure that the will has been there among the agencies. Understandably, they have their remits,' he said. READ MORE Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI have made 'significant gains' to boost the numbers of small and medium-sized companies from both sides of the Border travelling abroad together in search of business, though 'not as consistently as we might like'. Illustrating the understanding enjoyed among unionist politicians of the successes of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), Mr Martin quoted former Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson 's declaration: 'Give me the IDA any day!' Highlighting issues on which he wanted to see progress with Stormont, Mr Martin said there were substantial advantages to co-operation on education and skills training, health and environmental policy, along with direct investment and energy security. 'I want to see progress in each of these areas, and more in the times ahead,' he said as he launched the ESRI's report, Sharing the Island: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities . Huge strides have been made since the Belfast Agreement nearly three decades ago, but cross-Border co-operation has 'so far failed to meet its full potential' since. 'The sustained peace that we enjoy must also mean increasing prosperity, opportunity and wellbeing for all. This is pivotal in achieving a more reconciled future for all communities on this island,' Mr Martin said. Pointing to the ground made since he established the Shared Island initiative in 2020, Mr Martin said 'a step change' had taken place in the deepening of all-island co-operation and connections. Half of the €1 billion fund allocated by the Government has already been marked for spending, and a further €1 billion was going to be spent over the next decade on cross-Border co-operation, he said. The Government, in conjunction with Stormont and London, would pursue 'the exciting, essential opportunity' that now existed to pursue 'a prosperity agenda for the whole island and achieve a deeper reconciliation'. Research carried out by the ESRI has highlighted the 'huge untapped potential' that existed for all-island co-operation, along with the 'significant commonalities and differences'. He noted the findings surrounding lower educational levels, productivity and life expectancy trends in Northern Ireland, which were 'a cause of concern' and a reminder of the need for more rapid change. Prompted, perhaps, by events in the United States , the Taoiseach went out of his way to praise the role of the independent, but state-funded ESRI in Irish public policymaking. 'Institutions do matter in democracies, and the independence of institutions do matter in democracies, and access to independent research is critical in terms of keeping society and a democracy fit, and on its toes,' he said. The ESRI has consistently made landmark contributions to the development of public policy in Ireland. In a time of increased discord and reduced attention spans in public debate, the institute was a respected, rigorous voice that informed discussion, the Taoiseach told the gathering hosted by the ESRI, which this year celebrates its 65th anniversary.
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach to publish new report on North-South cooperation
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will publish a significant report on the Government's Shared Island initiative, which aims to harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement by enhancing cross-border cooperation. The latest joint ESRI-Shared Island report, entitled 'Sharing the Island: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities', marks four years of collaboration. In his keynote address in Dublin, it is expected that Mr Martin will point to the further €1 billion investment in the Shared Island Fund to 2035, and reflect on the strengthened ties between Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. There have been 15 previous reports, and the research has examined addressing child poverty and education outcomes. It has led to pilot programmes, involving cooperation north and south, aimed at reducing inequality in education. It is expected that Mr Martin will identify how it is possible to unlock more potential for all-island cooperation in areas such as skills, foreign direct investment and energy, with ongoing research feeding into policy.
RTÉ News
27-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Martin to publish new report on north-south cooperation
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will publish a significant report on the Government's Shared Island initiative, which aims to harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement by enhancing cross-border cooperation. The latest joint ESRI-Shared Island report, entitled 'Sharing the Island: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities', marks four years of collaboration. In his keynote address in Dublin, it is expected that Mr Martin will point to the further €1 billion investment in the Shared Island Fund to 2035, and reflect on the strengthened ties between Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. There have been 15 previous reports, and the research has examined addressing child poverty and education outcomes. It has led to pilot programmes, involving cooperation north and south, aimed at reducing inequality in education. It's expected that Mr Martin will identify how it is possible to unlock more potential for all-island cooperation in areas such as skills, foreign direct investment and energy, with ongoing research feeding into policy.
