Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 12 October 2021

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

Dispute Resolution Mechanism: Discussion

Mr. Karl Gardner:

Their biggest ask for them all is certainty, as the committee will have heard. Businesses do not particularly like any form of uncertainty. It is important to note that it has been good on citizens and business, it is not just focused on economics but the broader community. They would like to see some form of clarity on customs and how the process is to work. SPS checks have been raised in our engagements with businesses there and the committee will have heard that too. Medicines are raised all the time. The fourth thing is similar to the point the Chair made earlier which is the need for some form of engagement process between Northern Ireland and the Commission, that they understand what is happening in the Commission that impacts on them. Those are the four broad areas that tend to be covered in our engagements.