Mr. Seamus Doyle:

I am a member of NILGA and a member of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, and Banbridge Council before that. The Northern Ireland Local Government Association, NILGA, is the only functioning cross-party political body in Northern Ireland at present. Throughout the hiatus in regional government at Stormont, NILGA has sought to build consensus and represent all of Northern Ireland's main political parties at local government level in Westminster, Dublin and Brussels.

Northern Ireland's councils have built a strong track record in delivering economic growth and fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The Border corridor in particular will be the region most affected by Brexit and its outworkings, and we are working intently to prepare our councils and to attempt to minimise any negative effects for local areas.

Brexit is a major concern for our councils. We are all too familiar with the risks we are facing, namely, the unbinding of our close ties with our neighbours on an economic and social level which will widen the gap between our communities and impinge on our way of life. Different rules and regulations are creating havoc for business, the environment and ordinary people which will create difficult conditions for our small businesses and tourists, resulting in a downturn in our economies. There will be pressure on our agriculture, health, manufacturing and hospitality sectors. In this difficult situation we find ourselves in, our communities and councils, however, will find ways to continue our strong tradition of co-operation. We are feeling optimistic about the future of cross-Border co-operation following recent meetings with the regional assemblies in Brussels and follow-up meetings at home, and we are planning future collaborative work together. This will include sharing information and tools to ensure local authorities North and South are prepared for Brexit. We are embedding entrepreneurialism in our local authorities and investigating joint opportunities for training and development. We are building regional relationships to improve cross-Border development and regeneration.

In economic policy terms, the emergence of city and growth deals can be a real game changer for Northern Ireland. NILGA's paper of May 2018 highlights the interconnectedness of our economies, in particular the links with the national development plan and the cross-Border linkages with the Derry and Newry areas. Indeed in the hinterland of the Derry city region, 40% of the population lives in Donegal. It goes without saying that investment in one jurisdiction will reap benefits for the entire region, whether that be investment in jobs, broadband, education or infrastructure. This is what we must focus on to ensure growth of the entire island.

I thank the committee for their attention, and my colleague, Ms Lisa O’Kane, will address any questions from the committee.