Browne talks Br exit in Brussels
DEPUTY James Browne was in Brussels last week week meeting senior EU officials to discuss Brexit in advance of Britain formally triggering Article 50, with the impact on Rosslare Europort and County Wexford high on the agenda.
Deputy Browne said he used the opportunity to highlight the challenges facing Wexford, including the difficulties facing Rosslare Harbour given its important trade links with Britain.
He said he made the point that Wexford is uniquely placed to take advantage of Brexit in terms of bolstering global trade links.
The delegation highlighted the importance of maintaining the Common Travel Area and preventing the emergency of a hard border, including at our ports and stressed the needs for the EU to establish a support fund to assist the sectors of the economy which are likely to suffer the most as a result of Brexit, including the agriculture and tourism sectors.
The delegation included Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Brexit Stephen Donnelly and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade Darragh O’Brien TD.
‘Fianna Fail is seriously concerned about the difficulties that Brexit poses for Ireland, particularly for those in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
‘Ireland is the most exposed of all European Union member states to the ill-winds associated with Brexit. The threat of import barriers, currency fluctuations and volatility in agriculture prices threatens our economic stability,’ he said.
Deputy Browne said the party was working with its colleagues at a European level to try and protect Ireland’s interests during the Brexit negotiations and that it was essential that those on mainland Europe were fully briefed about the challenges associated with Brexit and the steps which need to be taken to help protect Ireland.