Minister Kitt Visits Inter Trade Roadshow in Belfast

Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D. Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs and Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment today (Friday 10th November 2000) met in Belfast on the occasion of the 2nd InterTrade Ireland Roadshow.

The purpose of the Roadshows is to raise awareness of InterTrade Ireland and its remit of promoting and developing trade and business links between North and South. The Roadshows also aim to initiate and develop contacts between business organisations in both jurisdictions and to highlight business development issues on the island of Ireland.

Minister Kitt said that "InterTrade Ireland offers the prospect of improving the competitiveness of businesses, especially SMEs, through greater co-operation on issues of mutual concern to business North and South".

"This series of Roadshows, launched last week In Dublin and moving on to Limerick and Derry after this weekend in Belfast, provide a useful forum for interaction with business North and South and will help the Body to identify issues and develop appropriate responses within its remit".

Minister Kitt stressed the important role cross-border co-operation plays in enabling business to grow and develop North and South. He said "This co-operation extends out to other related areas as well. Within my own remit, as Minister responsible for occupational health and safety, I recently launched, with Dr. Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, the Construction Safety Management System Certification Scheme in Dundalk. The scheme, which is a joint North/South initiative between the Construction Industry Federation in the South and the Construction Employers Federation in the North, has developed and tested a system providing independent certification of compliance with structured safety management systems in construction firms".

"This joint initiative aims to improve safety in the construction sector. It also contributes to the development and improvement of North/South relations and co-operation and shows the value and advantage of working together in areas relating to the development of trade and business", the Minister added.

"By working together we can eliminate common constraints and barriers to business development; by working together, we can help business to grow and prosper; by working together, we show that our commitment to achieving Peace and Prosperity remains resolute" Minister Kitt concluded.