Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests.

This is a fluid situation and those are the dynamics with which we are dealing. I agree regarding the gap in information. I am sure the gap in respect of trade from the North of Ireland into Britain and vice versais frustrating from an economic perspective. It is also politically frustrating for us as Oireachtas Members. It is to be hoped that we can get to the point where it is no longer a case of cursing in the dark but, rather, lighting a candle in terms of some of those statistics informing all of our work going forward.

My colleagues have covered many of the issues I wished to raise. This may seem like an obvious question but I want to put it to the witnesses anyway. In the context of the figure in respect of the increase in trade North to South, would that have happened without the protocol? I appreciate that probably seems obvious, but it is important that we remind ourselves of the dynamics of the situation we are in and the insulation and protections that the protocol offers to businesses here. Reference was made to the 90% increase and where that sits in the context of trade falling or increasing elsewhere. How much room is there to grow that trade through a dedicated piece of work that promotes the protocol and informs businesses about it? Is it something that could be grown exponentially if dedicated supports, plans and processes are put in place?