Mr. John Kelpie:

I thank Mr. Gallagher for that and I thank members for bearing with us. We believe the implications of Brexit are very significant for the north-west city region. Weak subregional economies will become even weaker with Brexit. It is very likely that the great progress that has been made in the north west in recent years will stall or, indeed, go backwards. This cannot be allowed to happen. To mitigate, we must come out the other end of this with free movement of people, trade and services. We must continue to function as a cohesive, integrated, cross-Border and thriving city region in common with the requirements of the other Border corridor counties. Uniquely for Derry and the north west, there must be renewed impetus to address our infrastructure gaps and skills deficits. I refer to the long-awaited A5 and A6, rail and airport connectivity and, very importantly and key to the development of the north-west city region, the expansion of the University of Ulster at Magee College which is now almost 55 years overdue. If these projects are not delivered, Derry city and the wider north west, including northern Donegal, will most definitely regress in a post-Brexit situation as the evidence we have shows. The region's potential will be greatly impeded and the benefits to the region and country as a whole will be lost.

The time to act is now. We know in the region what needs to be done to propel Derry and the north west on a positive future trajectory, providing economic prosperity and social and community cohesion and well being. We have the partnerships in place at local level and the impetus is there from both Governments through the new strategic growth arrangements and cross-Border working arrangements. We are on that positive, integrated trajectory as the fourth-largest city region on the island and today we ask the committee for its assistance in delivering this positive future in a post-Brexit era.