Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the panellists. This is a very interesting discussion. I want to ask Dr. Healy about the importance of the single European market for energy. What positive consequences could it have for the all-Ireland economy? Mr. Mac Flynn mentioned the changes to corporation tax and said it would be misleading to think Northern Ireland would emulate the Republic by just cutting corporation tax. Surely if it was able to attract corporations that would otherwise come to the Republic, that would have a negative impact on the Republic. Can he comment on that?

One of the issues that will come to the fore in Northern Ireland in the next couple of years is the issue of a British exit from Europe.

Professor Roper might be able to comment on the benefits or otherwise to the Northern Ireland economy if it was to leave and whether they are more pronounced there than in other regions of the UK.

Dr. Bradley talked about the regional balance. Coming from Galway, we are obviously conscious of the growth and development of the Dublin region vis-à-vis other areas, notwithstanding a great deal of positivity in the west. In his summary, Dr. Bradley mentioned, in respect of the future of the Border region, a dependency through regional compensation for perceived threats and weaknesses. What exactly does that mean in terms of compensation? What type of compensation is he talking about?