Dr. Anthony Soares:

I am delighted with the points already made such as, for example, on the opportunity represented by FDI. We need to be careful with that opportunity because, as has been mentioned, Ireland will also be competing with other EU member states to try to attract FDI that is either being invested in the UK already or that is planned to invest in the UK. In competing with other EU states, we need to be careful that it is not a race to the bottom in trying to attract that FDI. I agree that this is an opportunity for investing in higher education to increase universities' capacity to drive innovation in the economy. There are opportunities to draw down EU funds precisely for the purpose of innovation within universities, and also for universities linked with SMEs in particular, on which the EU is extremely keen. There may be opportunities there.

I totally agree with having a national, cross-sectoral conversation involving business and civic society as well as the public sector and Government. That cross-sectoral conversation is needed in order to avoid the possibility of a race to the bottom or seizing opportunities which end up affecting certain sectors thereby increasing economic disparities. It is particularly important that this cross-sectoral conversation happens.

On the urban-rural dimension, a recent Department of Finance report indicated a large proportion of jobs in four of the five sectors most exposed by the consequences of the UK's decision to leave the EU are in the Border region and in rural areas more generally. As we seize any possible opportunities, we need to look address those disparities.