Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I allowed this slot to run over by four minutes so we will do the same with all the slots, if that is okay with the committee.

IBEC's contributions the other day were very positive. It is heart-warming to hear the progress that has been made and the potential to grow the economy on an all-island basis even more. Mr. D'Arcy and I shared platforms in the North and South in days when the like of what we are talking about today could only be a pipe dream. It is great to know about the significance of the Good Friday Agreement and what it has brought about, not just in saving lives, which is obviously the most important thing, and in bringing peace to our island, but the knock-on economic and social benefits for all the people throughout the island.

Ms Gallagher mentioned the IBEC campaign. I welcome that and compliment it on its work. It facilitates a conversation that is very important, which is that we take stock of what has been achieved. We often talk about what has not been achieved. It is very important at times, when we review strategies, agreements, Government policy, State policies or whatever, that we review what has happened. We should posit and put that out there, and show what can be done.

Mr. D'Arcy mentioned the agrifood industry. That has grown so much on an all-Ireland basis. The company, Lakeland Dairies, made massive investment in the likes of Omagh, and throughout Northern Ireland, where both the raw and finished product travels north to south and south to north. This committee discussed, as I did on platforms with Mr. D'Arcy, and shared concerns regarding Brexit when it was being talked about, long before the decision was made by the British Government, in respect of how it could disrupt our method of farming, agrifood, food production and all of that. All those issues have not been resolved. We sincerely hope they will be.

Has IBEC much evidence from its members that Brexit put a stop or hold on investment decisions by companies? My constituency of Cavan-Monaghan and the neighbouring counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh are very heavily dependent on the agrifood sector, construction products and engineering. The first market for any of those companies is Britain. Any disruption in trade between Britain and Ireland would significantly impact on the sectors our local economy is so dependent on. There are still concerns in the dairy and agrifood sectors with regard to how the protocol will work out. We sincerely hope that the level of inspections will be minimised very significantly and that, in reality, there will be no disruption to trade.

Has the worry of potential investors eased with regard to investment decisions, when we sincerely hope that progress is being achieved? There is now a British Government that seems intent on getting an agreement, along with the European Union which was always committed to getting an agreement. It was mentioned that the shared island initiative gives a new impetus to research and development. I presume the project that IBEC is involved in with the ESRI is one of the many shared island initiatives - others include the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, the ESRI and some of our universities - that studies and analyses policies on an all-Ireland basis, which is essential and a very positive move forward. Mr. Joe Kennedy, President Biden's new special envoy to Northern Ireland, has spoken about the investment opportunities and he also wants to bring that message.

I invite the representatives to make a quick comment on any of the issues I mentioned. The shared island initiative builds on the success of the Good Friday Agreement, which is very heartening. It is very important that the wider public hear the message we are giving that there are day-to-day jobs in our communities that would not be there were it not for the Good Friday Agreement.