James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have two minutes. I will take two topics and give them one minute each. My first point on Brexit is about the how Ireland now finds itself placed with regard to foreign direct investment. Companies have been signalling their intent to look at Ireland a second time or consider Ireland as a possible alternative location. We need to ensure our State agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the other agencies, capitalise on this. They are certainly in a position to do so. Visa and work permit schemes should be fast-tracked and packages should be put in place in order that if there are expressions of interest from companies looking to relocate, which seemingly there are, then we should be in a position to welcome them and take them on.

Again, the housing crisis comes into play. One issue for companies potentially looking to relocate is accommodation. I have heard anecdotally that places are already being snapped up or at least inquired about. We should prioritise that. Every job created through foreign direct investment generates three more in the local economy as well as the obvious benefits of those high-end jobs coming to our country.

The question of the Northern Ireland Border is crucial. It is critical that we look at arrangements to insulate the all-island approach, if at all possible. All the work of the Good Friday Agreement, cross-Border institutions and everything we have seen done in recent years should be protected. It would be disastrous if the Border were to re-emerge. I encourage all interested parties to look at how an all-Ireland border could be put in place instead. If customs posts or controls are to be put up, then they should be put on the United Kingdom rather than our Border, if at all possible.

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