Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since we began our discussions on Brexit on 18 October, we have heard from a range of groups, including the enterprise agencies, economic analysts, employee groups and business groups including IBEC and Chambers Ireland. Looking ahead to Christmas, we did not have much discussion on the favourable sterling rates which may well see a lot of people from the South going to the North to shop. I am concerned that many businesses south of the Border will have to close in January because they will not have had the benefit of the usual Christmas boost.

We also did not talk much about whether we will, post-Brexit, have a hard or soft Border. What is the feeling among people in the North in this regard? The delegates noted that 56% of the Northern electorate voted to stay in the EU. Are ordinary people engaged with the issues and concerned about the potential impacts? Reference was made to the different nationalities living in the North. A recent television report featured a re-enactment by two communities on either side of the Border of what it was like when we had a hard Border. We are not discussing agriculture today but we all are aware of the number of mushroom factories that have closed. Once Christmas is over and consumer spending reduces, I am concerned for all the small and medium enterprises on the Border, both North and South.