Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Gaynor and thank him for his comprehensive report. I appreciate that part of his presentation in positive, even if it is only one paragraph. Sometimes in these types of circumstances negativity takes over, we develop tunnel vision and focus only on negatives.

Not to be undone by Senators Joe O'Reilly and Neale Richmond, as a racehorse owner and chairman of a local race track, I am a regular visitor to Dundalk on Friday nights. How will racing in Dundalk be affected given that meetings are fixed around bank holidays in the North?

They have a fixture on 12 July and others primarily aimed at a Northern Ireland audience. That brings a lot of business to Dundalk, including retail, accommodation, services and entertainment. Does Mr. Gaynor have much communication with service industries and sports organisations? Soccer fixtures are also organised across the Border. Therefore, if anything was to happen to affect the common travel area, how would the economic status of the entertainment sector in Dundalk be affected? How will the fact that Dundalk is a poor town have an effect? How much of the business done in Dundalk, Drogheda and Greenore ports is destined for the North? The sector is very big and encompasses areas outside the town of Dundalk. How can the economy be insulated? Are there contingency plans to deal with the worst case scenario? I welcome the introduction of the retail voucher scheme which seems to have brought a great deal of business to the area. As Senator Joe O'Reilly said about his friend from Waterford, Brexit is an all-Ireland issue, but it is predominantly in focus in Border areas. It is important that we do not lose focus on expanding business by going on the defensive. Rather than insulating ourselves against the worst case scenario, we need to keep developing and hope for the best.

What communication does the chamber have with the agriculture sector or others that might be affected?