Professor Ciar?n ? h?gartaigh:

If I could add to that, on the research side, there is also the shared island initiative, which has the Atlantic futures initiative, which is the University of Galway, the ATU, the University of Ulster and the University of Limerick. There are similar models and that is working quite well. However, I would agree with Mr. Hannigan that cross-Border recognition, particularly in health, is challenging.

One of the other areas outside this area that could be explored is cross-Border joint appointments, say, between Letterkenny and Derry and Enniskillen in the healthcare sector. I know the hospital system will find it very difficult to recruit into Letterkenny. Having joint appointments would be one way to address that.

I agree with Mr. Hannigan that guidance counsellors do great work and that we need to support and extend that area while investing more in it. I also agree with the Deputy that this is not the only piece of the jigsaw. One of the messages we should take from today is that there are many moving parts we need to work on. A level equivalence to the leaving certificate is one but there are others, for example, information, cross-Border recognition and costs. Addressing one of these on its own will not solve the issue. A one-stop shop is a great idea. The CAO does a certain amount of that but having something separate and distinct would also be good.