Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a Deputy representing rural Ireland with respect to both Dundalk and Drogheda in my constituency, I commend the members and staff of Chambers Ireland on the excellent work they do on behalf of business people and the community. I have always found it a go-to organisation during my time in public life. Equally, their contribution to the strategic policy committees and the overall development of my region is excellent and their help in response to public representation is superb.

I have a few questions. Will the delegates from Chambers Ireland and Dublin Chamber of Commerce set out for the committee the cost of the proposed budget measures they have put forward in their pre-budget submissions? They have dealt in their submissions with the issue of sustainable and affordable housing. What budget measures would they propose to implement to address that issue? Will the witnesses suggest any other budgetary measures that would be worth pursuing to help increase labour support?

I commend the living city initiative.

Is there a combined strategy among the chambers of commerce to ensure the various locations seeking the living city initiative, such as my own region of Dundalk and Drogheda, get it, and how is the work progressing?

I wish to briefly raise three personal issues. As you know, Chairman, I do not take the full five minutes allocated to me and I will not be coming back in. As a relatively new Dáil Deputy since 2016, I am also relatively new to travelling into a gridlocked Dublin. Are the witnesses looking at solutions to solve the gridlock on the M1? It is blatantly obvious to me from 6 a.m. I am anxious to hear what debates are going on about the movement of lorries and the gridlock not just on the M1 but on many other access roads. It strikes me that much of the traffic is heading to the port to coincide with ferry travel times. Have the witnesses considered what incentives could be used to get the lorries into the port at an earlier time that would help people who are trying to commute into the city?

My final two points relate to Brexit. Do the witnesses have a view on the need for an all-Ireland economic zone on the island to solve many of the issues relating to the Single Market and the difficulties with trade? Have the witnesses considered the impact of the proposed tariff regime that will be introduced in the context of no deal, and what impact it will have on their businesses? That would have a significant impact on the Border region. The type of goods we are talking about will impact on the business community in Dublin and the wider region.