Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I am delighted that the witnesses are present. I am the rapporteur for the very important report on the all-Ireland economy. It is very interesting to hear the information from the witnesses.

The background to this issue, which people do not necessarily realise, is the level of economic deprivation, displacement and emigration that exists in rural and urban communities along the Border and the effect the Border has on the creation of those difficulties. It is one of those big problems which is within our grasp, as elected representatives, to resolve. The majority of people who have come before this committee to speak on this issue have articulated the same views as the witnesses. I hope I do not get it wrong but to paraphrase it, the necessary attention to resolve this particular problem has not existed. Indeed, Professor Bradley stated that what currently passes for cross-Border co-operation in this country is an absolute joke. It has slipped massively down the radar of priorities of the Government and that is a challenge for us.

Would the witnesses say the equalisation of things such as taxes and excises would play a stronger role than other measures in ensuring the incentive for the black economy starts to reduce? My second question concerns Retail Excellence Ireland and the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, NIIRTA, the Northern counterpart, which recently carried out a great report on the all-Ireland economy. One of the specific points mentioned in the report concerned tourism shopping. It said there was a potential €750 million opportunity, North and South, if there was a focus on the issue. They suggested the establishment of an all-Ireland retail forum to work together on it. Do the witnesses share this view? The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation currently sees no reason for such an approach.

The memorandum of understanding is fantastic and the fact it has been pioneered by the witnesses is brilliant. I am amazed it has not been replicated across other areas of the Border although Monaghan is looking at it at the moment. Can we get more detail on the memorandum of understanding? Are employed individuals joint employees or seconded individuals, North and South? Is funding made available to work it? Is there closer planning or is planning carried out together? I would appreciate a better understanding of how that should work.

It strikes me that there is a major traffic problem when travelling from Dundalk to Sligo. Mr. Malone has spoken on this issue before and has said a person would be better off travelling down to Kells and onto the M3 to get there. We have major difficulties in getting to two significant Irish towns as well as across that area in general.

The issue of a Border economic zone has been coming up in discussions. Some people favour proceeding with it along the whole length of the Border. Others favour a small geographic region clustered around, as stated by the witnesses, an institute of technology, perhaps, and different infrastructural strengths. What would be the inputs into it and what type of environment would exist within it?

If looking to invest in a Northern business or a Northern business is looking to invest down South, what is capital mobility like? What is the current situation with labour mobility? What is the experience with banks and telecommunications? Given the Border is currently stuffed economically and we are in the EU together, would Brexit add a serious economic challenge? Would it create poverty along the Border? What would be the likelihood for the struggling economy in that area if Brexit were to happen?