Mr. Neil Willoughby:

We had confirmation yesterday that, effectively, the recognition of professional qualifications is governed under the TCA rather than under the protocol. That means there is a limitation in the fact that the Irish and British Governments cannot have a bilateral, catch-all, comprehensive agreement whereby all British qualifications may be recognised in Ireland and vice versa. Where that creates a problem, it will have to be done on a sector-by-sector basis. Each professional body will have to do that separately, and we are in a situation where that can be highly fragmented. Our expectation prior to this, along with our partners in the joint business council, CBI Northern Ireland, was that this would be facilitated under the protections in the protocol and the protections to the common travel area. It is something we raised yesterday with the Commission and we are hoping to follow up on it in the coming days and weeks to understand how it can be done in a more co-ordinated fashion, given the protection that exists under the protocol. That is the most information I have at present, but I am happy to follow up with more information.