Mr. Michael Gaynor:

Thank you, Chairman.

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce is a long-established organisation which dates back to the 1890s, and is highly respected at both local and national level. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce will not shy away from its responsibility to drive a meaningful position forward for its membership and for the entire economy post Brexit. We stand ready to work in partnership with all other stakeholders, including Governments from both sides of the Border, to progress the notion of an open border for the benefit of the Island of Ireland. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce has a memorandum of understanding with Newry Chamber of Trade and Commerce and also works closely with Warrenpoint and Kilkeel Chambers of Commerce. Our joint chambers have previously presented to an Oireachtas committee on cross-Border issues.

The Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, when sitting, and UK Governments have been unanimous in the view that we must maintain the openness of the Border which we enjoy today. They have pledged to work for special arrangements which take into account Northern Ireland's unique relationship with the Republic of Ireland. The importance of maintaining an open border has been included in the letter by Theresa May, British Prime Minister, in her correspondence when triggering Article 50. She has asked for what she has termed "a creative and flexible approach to the border question". The European Council's draft guidelines commit to helping to uphold the Good Friday Agreement and note the need for creative and flexible solutions to Ireland-UK issues, which is greatly encouraging. The Border crossing at Killeen, which separates the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland, is situated between Dundalk and Newry and is currently marked only by a miles per hour speed control road sign. That is the only indication that one is crossing a border. Approximately 30,000 people cross the Border along its 500 km length every day and some 3,000 people cross the Border in both directions between Dundalk and Newry every day on their way to work. Workers travelling to Dundalk from some of the small villages dotted on the Northern side of the Border might have to cross the Border at four different crossing points before finally arriving in Dundalk.

Dundalk Chamber is justifiably concerned that the reinstatement of any kind of hard border would have obvious negative consequences for cross-Border trade and economic activity. Dundalk is a frontier town situated 11 km from the Border on the M1 Dublin-Belfast corridor and our members and the general business community are very concerned at the prospect of the imposition of a hard border. I cannot stress that enough. There is a real fear within Border communities that any reinstatement of a border may impact on the hard-earned peace process. Dundalk businesses in particular are uniquely affected by the perceived threat of a closed, or hard, border. Many of our businesses are reliant on cross-Border flows of labour, trade and customers. Equally serious would be the effect of resurrecting any symbol of division in a town emerging from impact of the Troubles which had such an adverse effect on business in Dundalk for many years. Many communities and groups in Dundalk and Newry are working hard to foster greater reconciliation, shared understanding and partnership between both sides of the political divide.

Over the last few months, we have already witnessed the consequences of Brexit. These include currency fluctuations producing even greater uncertainty, low investment confidence particularly in the retail sector and lower consumer confidence in general. It is particularly frustrating to see that our SMEs and, indeed, larger multinationals are still reluctant to invest. This uncertainty has led to a wait-and-see approach to further expansion for many firms.

On a positive note Dundalk has benefited from a number of firms from Northern Ireland seeking to open businesses there, as a direct result of Brexit. Admac, a company based in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, is a case in point. It has announced 100 new jobs coming to the town, which is indeed very welcome. Inquiries for brass plate business addresses are of little or no value to the town.

Many of the local indigenous small and medium enterprises, SMEs, would naturally trade directly with the UK and recent currency fluctuations have made trading conditions very difficult for some. There is a real fear that if open market trading conditions are not maintained within the UK some of the local companies may have to move operations to the UK.

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, as a leading business organisation, can see no other option than to keep the Border open for trade and the movement of people. A common travel area is a vital part of everyday life for communities living along the Border. It facilitates the movement of tourists into the Carlingford and Slieve Gullion area and provides easy access for workers to travel and work on either side of the Border. From the UK's perspective, keeping the common travel area after Brexit would provide a significant backdoor to an EU member state. More importantly, it would preserve the cross-Border freedoms that many in Northern Ireland see as central to their livelihood, lifestyle, identity, and political outlook. There is little doubt that an open Border has contributed significantly to the current period of stability and peace on the island of Ireland.

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce recognises that the new economic challenges facing our region and country are best addressed by seeking all-Ireland political party support, and that those parties actively seek platforms where our fellow EU member states can recognise, understand and support the unique position of the island of Ireland within the EU.