Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As representatives of Border areas, my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, and I are acutely aware of the damage that will be caused by a no-deal Brexit. Last year, the Department of Finance published a report which stated that any form of Brexit is likely to cause a structural change in the Irish economy. As such, any response needs to be structural in nature and cannot merely be about managing Brexit. Whatever form Brexit takes, it will affect the dynamics of Irish imports and exports.

In the context of infrastructure, Brexit will accelerate the current over-reliance on Dublin and its catchment area. We need a regional balance. Its lack is evident in County Louth, which I represent. Last week, I spoke to the head of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, who shared his deep concerns and frustration regarding the Dublin-Belfast and Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry corridors and the lack of information and practical business plans from the Government. We spoke about the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act. It is a preparatory Act which is now effectively out of date. Its purpose was to advise people on the preparations they needed to take. We are six weeks from a possible no-deal Brexit and we have not seen a practical Government plan for businesses. As all Members know, a no-deal Brexit would have catastrophic consequences for Border communities and counties, not to mention the entire island of Ireland.

People in the Six Counties voted to remain. The Border communities and counties, and the people of Ireland, will never accept any attempt to reinstate a hard border on our island.

In my town of Drogheda, people are sick and tired of the lack of effort and commitment the Government, and IDA Ireland, have shown to date to attract new jobs and investment for our town. To give one example, when Coca-Cola announced a review of its operations in January, I contacted the Minister asking her to do what she could to intervene to try to save the jobs but to no avail. Just last week, a US firm, MTI, closed its Irish headquarters in Drogheda after just two years. We need to see and feel the real benefit of both the Government and IDA Ireland's focused attention being put not just on Drogheda but throughout the Border counties.

I am disappointed but not surprised by the lack of progress from IDA Ireland so far. The threat of a no-deal Brexit only heightens the need for investment, not just in Louth but in every other county across the island. Drogheda has lost out on enough over the years and has had massive underinvestment as matters stand. This makes it even more imperative that we retain the jobs we have already. We need to invest to tackle the threat of Brexit but also to allow County Louth in particular to develop as a centre for jobs and education.

Brexit has exposed the incredible laziness of this Government, and previous Governments, in terms of planning in the State. The default position, which has been to simply pile everything within the confines of the M50 corridor and hope for the best, has to change. It is blindingly obvious that any action planned for Brexit must allow for regions to develop as that is the only sustainable project possible. That means investment, jobs and allowing communities to survive and thrive. It means a future for the main streets of regional towns like Dundalk and Drogheda.

We know that Brexit will be used by the Government, and Fianna Fáil, to withhold investment where it is most needed. It will do this because it is not interested in public service but private profit for the well connected. The challenge of Brexit is not only to mitigate its effects but to ensure it is not used as a Trojan horse for the further dismantling of our shared social services and infrastructure.

At a time when corporate tax receipts continue to exceed expectations, the State is in a position to invest in essential non-recurring projects needed across society. In no area is this approach more needed than the severe shortage of housing. The State cannot continue to be a cash cow for corporate landlords and speculators. We need to make rents more affordable and start building houses. Education and research are key to future productivity and growth. We need a jobs and investment plan from IDA Ireland that is more regional in scope than what exists today.

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