Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. It is particularly important that the Government is aware of the challenges posed by Brexit for counties such as Donegal because of its geographic location and the fact that over 95% of the county's border is with Northern Ireland as opposed to bordering the Republic. There is no doubt that Brexit poses a significant challenge for the whole island but especially for Donegal where the challenge is even more pronounced.

On the work of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, there must be a significant stepping-up of the efforts to attract employment into the county, particularly by IDA Ireland. The visit numbers in recent years have not been what they should have been. I would like to see the Government and the Minister work with IDA Ireland to ensure that at a national level, companies are given the opportunity and every incentive possible to invest in the county.

I want to raise a particular issue with the Minister concerning cross-Border workers. There are some 14,500 people who, on a daily basis, travel between the North and the Republic. More than 8,000 workers and students from Donegal travel into the North while some 6,500 people travel from the North to the Republic. Nearly 7% of Donegal's working population are employed in Northern Ireland. What is the Government doing to ensure that the issue of cross-Border workers can be safeguarded in light of Brexit and to address the concerns of those people?

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