Mr. Michael Murphy:

On behalf of the EPP group, I thank the Chairman for the kind invitation to Mr. Lambertz and the Conference of Presidents of the European Union to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit from a local and regional perspective. I thank the committee secretariat, particularly Ms Heidi Lougheed, for the fantastic reception we received from the moment we set foot in Leinster House. I also acknowledge the excellent work of the joint committee in creating an awareness around the challenges of Brexit and on the future of Europe. It is important that Irish people view our membership of Europe in a positive light. They are often preoccupied with what they regard as national issues such as job security but the irony is that Europe continues to play a very important role in addressing these concerns.

I also refer to the Seanad committee on Brexit chaired by Senator Richmond which produced a very important report. It is very useful in explaining the impact of Brexit in Ireland, has helped to create awareness and allows us to prepare for the challenges of Brexit at local level.

Wearing a slightly different hat, as head of the Irish delegation, I welcome the visit of Mr. Lambertz and my colleagues in the conference of presidents. There is an excellent understanding among my colleagues on the conference of presidents and the entire membership of the Committee of the Regions of the unique set of challenges Ireland faces. I speak for the entire Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions in noting that we have received nothing but support and understanding from our 349 colleagues with regard to the challenges Brexit presents for Ireland. Today's visit is timely and symbolic. It is timely because we passed a resolution last week which deals in an appropriate way with the problems Ireland faces and it is symbolic because it coincides with the recent 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. That agreement has been the cornerstone of peace on the island of Ireland since the end of a violent conflict in which more than 3,000 people lost their lives and many more were injured or maimed.

As Mr. Lambertz noted, many different reports are being produced at national level, including a report by Copenhagen Economics and the report by Senator Richmond's committee. Internationally, the Committee of the Regions has done a territorial impact assessment. That report is particularly useful as it examines the impact of Brexit at local and regional level. Of the regions across the 27 member states, Irish regions will be most affected. That is not surprising given the level of trade intensity between ourselves and our UK partners. I am acutely aware of the challenges faced in the Border regions.

However, I am from Tipperary and that county has an agrifood-based economy. We are hugely dependent on the UK market.

To refer back to something Senator Paul Coghlan stated, the local authorities that prepare - and their regions - will, despite the uncertainty, be best positioned to mitigate the challenges of Brexit. The Oireachtas has already provided local authorities with a suite of measures through the local enterprise offices and the new loan scheme from Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. We are acutely aware of that in Tipperary, but we are concerned that not all local authorities are aware of the suite of measures available through the local enterprise office. I am introducing the Brexit debate into the chambers of Tipperary County Council and I know the local authorities in the Border counties are acutely aware but I appeal to the committee to send the message to all the CEOs of the local authorities on the island of Ireland that there are supports available and to create that awareness, despite the uncertainty about the challenges of Brexit. I have been in the private sector for 30 years and I am acutely aware of the disruption that Brexit could potentially cause for our supply chain. That is why we are preparing and availing of the measures available through the local enterprise office.

I wish to use this opportunity to drive home one of the key messages in the TIA assessment produced by the European Committee of the Regions. The local authorities that prepare, despite the uncertainty, are the local authorities, regions and cities across Europe that are best positioned to mitigate the challenges of Brexit. The local authorities need to create an awareness and make local businesses and various sectors aware of the supports available through the local enterprise office.

I will give my colleagues a chance to speak. I thank the committee for this unique opportunity.