John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will touch on a couple of matters. There is a concept where I come from in Dundalk of promoting the M1 corridor between Dublin and Belfast, which is the economic engine of the island of Ireland, given the large population and employment in the area. The concept is one of trying to promote the region for FDI. This can be done well. If we just try to promote Louth, Down, Armagh or part of Belfast, American companies will view them as small time and ask why they should go there. Instead, an entire region should be promoted. Being able to sell across the Border region, with markets stretching out from Dublin to Belfast, would be much more attractive when trying to sell an area for FDI. I would be keen to know the witnesses' views on this idea.

For a seventh year, the chambers of commerce of Newry and Dundalk have organised a cross-Border conference on Brexit. It will be held on 8 March and will be attended by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, and Mr. Chris Heaton-Harris. Some of the themes will be business supports, skills and people, and the all-island economy. It is a good example of how we are bringing businesses from both sides together to tease out some of these issues.

I wish to pick up on the point about climate change. I am Fine Gael's climate spokesperson in the Seanad. I was involved with the deposit return scheme, which was brilliant. The point was made about that scheme as well. What role could IBEC play in ensuring that we have more joined-up thinking North and South in our climate policies? I have just come from a debate in the Seanad on an oil reserves Bill that has to do with energy security. What more can IBEC do to ensure that both Governments on the island have climate change and energy security policies that are as joined up as possible?