Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Like colleagues, I commend the report. It is timely, useful and informative for this committee in particular. Many issues have been raised at this meeting in what has been a worthwhile and comprehensive discussion, which has been reflective of the ongoing, evolving and organic nature of these conversations.

I wish to discuss something that, although distinct from the Good Friday Agreement, complements it while being complemented by the agreement in turn. I am referring to the common travel area. I sit on committee A of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Senator Currie chairs it. We are carrying out work on the common travel area post Brexit and the potential pitfalls, with a particular focus on the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 that was recently passed in Westminster. The witnesses will know that the Act will require non-Irish and non-British citizens travelling from the South to the North to apply for electronic travel waivers. This will have an impact on tourism as well as labour and student mobility. Has IBEC researched this issue? If IBEC has discussed the matter with its membership, what is its membership's view on the impact? I am thinking in particular about the Good Friday Agreement. At this meeting and in its report, IBEC referenced tourism and how to promote that internationally. It also discussed how to attract people to work in a tech company in Derry who wished to live in Donegal. I am not asking the witnesses to enter the realm of political commentary and I understand why the business community likes to step back from that, but given the acute economic, societal and political impact this could have, how could we encourage the business community and other key stakeholders to be aware of this issue and to engage and lobby on it? The common travel area is important for a range of reasons having to do with rights and our economy.

Does IBEC see any potential damage to that which would have a further impact in the context of the issues we are speaking about?