Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. When Mr. O'Hanlon began his presentation he reminded me of how local authorities can overcome all sorts of issues by working together. Sometimes things are driven locally that nationally we could not dream of doing. I am mindful of the fact that the day after the referendum Ms Keogan was on the phone to me demanding resources for local authorities for the Border region. There is serious drive at local level and I am delighted to have heard the presentation.

Not one of the witnesses presented anything negative. They have created an air of co-operation that feeds through what I have heard from various ambassadors. I am a member of the European affairs committee. All of the ambassadors speak in glowing terms about how they were treated on the Border and how they were briefed on it. This is the same as all of the parliamentary delegations that have come to Ireland. They have gone away in no doubt. Michel Barnier himself speaks about the Border with a level of passion one would not expect from a foreigner. This is down to the work being done by local authorities in the area. However, the day after the referendum I wrote a piece on the Border and, I am afraid, it was negative. It had anything but the positivity I have heard from the witnesses. Whether it is a hard or soft Brexit, I fear it will change our relationships forever but, after listening to Mr. O'Hanlon and Mr. Hatch, I am not so convinced that the change will be detrimental because I believe they will find ways of working around issues and this is important.

As we heard from the previous witnesses, much of the money that has gone into Northern Ireland since 1998 has gone in at a high level, such as into academia, and not much money is going down to the ordinary level. Infrastructure has been mentioned and my fear is that in a mismatch of funding post-Brexit the infrastructure on the Northern side will change to the detriment of the development of the economy or sustaining the economy as it is now. I am interested to know the view of Ms Arthurs specifically on how she sees the UK matching funding from the EU. I do not see EU money going North of the Border.

With regard to the flight of industry, I am sure the councillors from the South will accept it would be so easy for a company that wants to remain in the European Union but, post-Brexit, is on the wrong side of the Border - for the want of a definition - to slip across the Border and set up offices in Dundalk, Drogheda or County Meath. We have met businesses in Northern Ireland that have said they will do this if the business is interfered with.

The group of Independent Senators of which I am a member went to Belfast prior to Christmas to meet members of the business community. They told us the only thing they want is certainty. They do not care whether it is a hard, soft any other type of Brexit, they just want certainty so they can start to make plans. Has Ms Arthurs had any negative feedback from businesses in the area? Clearly this shows there is a huge commitment to the area. Have the businesses come to her and said they are in trouble?