The SDLP is to present the British and Irish governments with proposals for
unprecedented North-South co-operation including the same judges, police,
and prison officers working in both jurisdictions.
An all-Ireland sex offenders' register, the same training courses for Garda
and Police Service of Northern Ireland recruits, and an all-Ireland Law
Commission to promote harmonisation of laws between North and South, are
among the proposals.
The SDLP is calling for hospitals on both sides of the Border to pool
resources to buy equipment which would otherwise be unaffordable in either
jurisdiction.
The party says cross-Border cooperation is being hindered by the suspension
of the North's political institutions and it's now time to take action.
It's proposing an all-Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau to tackle paramilitary
and other crime more effectively, and an all-Ireland Public Safety Body to
reduce the number of accidents and deaths on Border roads.
The SDLP is increasingly stressing its pro-Irish unity policies. SDLP
Assembly member, Sean Farren, who co-wrote the document, said the current
scale of North-South co-operation was only a fraction of its potential.
"The SDLP has come up with real, practical ways to increase co-operation to
improve life for all on this island," he said. "Often, there is too much
theoretical nationalism so we have concentrated on bringing benefits to the
ordinary person on the street.
"It's not about getting one over on unionists. If something won't work, we
haven't suggested it. But in terms of the economy, education, healthcare,
and policing and justice, there are huge opportunities to develop joint
services in a new and exciting way."
Farren said allowing police and justice personnel to work on both sides of
the Border would encourage "the sharing of good practice" and help combat
the under-representation of Catholics in the North's criminal justice
system.
The SDLP says the Criminal Assets Bureau and the North's Assets Recovery
Agency would be more successful with joint teams of officers working on
investigations. It's also suggesting an all-Ireland Intelligence Agency to
combat paramilitaries.
An all-Ireland sex offenders' register was urgently needed following several
recent cases where sex offenders had evaded surveillance after crossing the
Border, Farren said.
The SDLP is suggesting a range of measures to make living in one
jurisdiction and working or running a business in the other more possible.
These include removing tax barriers imposed on cross-Border workers,
reducing cross-Border banking and insurance charges, and an integrated
postal service.
Welcoming the Taoiseach's decision to include Northern businesses in the
recent trade mission to India, Farren said joint North-South trade missions
must become common practice.
The SDLP is calling for a cross-Border strategy to tackle inequality. It was
"completely unacceptable that child poverty levels, North and South, are
among the highest in Europe".
Among other proposals are an all-Ireland food marketing body, more joint
RTE-BBC Northern Ireland projects, and teachers being able to work freely in
both jurisdictions.
