Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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They are. We are operating on a particular timeline, a bit like the witnesses in what they are talking about.

Usually I say that I apologise if I repeat myself, but I probably will not do so here. The crux of the matter is that there is an issue with veterinary medications. If this thing runs out in 2025, we are talking about something that will be somewhat disastrous if we cannot get separately an SPS veterinary agreement. Again, that will not be particularly useful. There is a general conversation on misalignment and burden of regulation. I think Ms Lynch spoke about an avalanche. Really, I think she is saying it is an avalanche that is only beginning as to what the issues are, whether companies will have to set up entities in other jurisdictions and so on.

Where I was earlier was a meeting with Dundalk Chamber of Commerce in the Gateway Hotel. When they got beyond just giving a report on the budget, they went into the fact that it is a taxation issue across the board and involves cross-Border workers, particularly remote working, and that many companies do not want to engage in this because of the hassle of setting up in another jurisdiction and all that goes with it. I imagine that would be an issue here as well. The witnesses have said not enough of the players have taken all this on board. As they say, that conversation is just not high enough on anyone's agenda. I suppose it is a matter of whatever role any of us can play, even given the timeline constraints within which we are operating. Mr. Lynam sees the joint committee, if it had teeth, as being something that could at least deal with some of this more dynamically. I think the only useful thing was using the example of Maroš Šefovi as someone who was able to deal with and get around a number of issues. It is a matter of how disastrous we are talking about, how we get a framework in place and who the players who need to step up are. I imagine all this has to happen very quickly.