Fianna Fail to host two Brexit events in a week
A Fianna Fail TD and a Fianna Fail councillor are holding two separate Brexit events less than a week apart.
Enniscorthy TD James Browne will host a Brexit Forum in Wexford town on Friday, March 24 while Cllr Malcolm Byrne will host a conference on the same issue on Thursday, March 30.
The forum being run by Deputy Browne will take place in the Talbot Hotel at 10.30am while Cllr Byrne’s conference will take place at the Clayton Whites Hotel at 8 p.m.
Yesterday (Monday) British Prime Minister Teresa May said she will trigger Article 50 on March 29.
Deputy Browne’s forum will focus in particular on the implications of Brexit on Agriculture and Tourism in Wexford and the South East region, and also the repercussions to the wider economy and political landscape.
Deputy Browne said: ‘ There is deep concern about the impact of Brexit on the economy of Wexford and the South East region. Therefore, I am organising this event for businesses and organisations that will be affected, as well as members of the public to understand in more detail how Brexit will impact the local and wider economy and what measures can be undertaken to lessen the effect.
‘We need to be ready, we need our voices heard. This is the most serious matter for this country in a generation.’
Guest speakers at the Brexit Forum include: Rowena Dwyer, Chief Economist with the IFA, Phelim O’Neill, Markets Specialist with the Farmers Journal, Joe Dolan, President of the Irish Hotel Federation and Niamh Lyons, Political Editor of the Irish Edition of The Times.
It will also be attended by Fianna Fáil frontbench spokespersons, Charlie McConalogue (Agriculture), Dara Calleary (Public Expenditure & Reform) and Stephen Donnelly (Brexit).
‘It is vitally important that there is discussion and a plan and strategy put in place for our county, region and country to absorb the immediate hit once the UK begin the negotiations to leave the EU’, said Deputy Browne.
To attend this forum contact james.browne@ oir.ie or by phone on 053 9235046 beforehand.
Cllr Byrne’s conference, Opportunities and Challenges of Brexit for County Wexford, will have a primary focus on identifying issues that will be of specific concern to the county in the context of an increasingly likely hard Brexit.
He said he wanted the non-political event to be as inclusive as possible adding he believed that Wexford could benefit in certain areas from Brexit while also dealing with significant challenges.
‘Brexit will be one of the biggest political, economic and social challenges facing Wexford, Ireland and Europe over the next decade. In everything from movement of people and goods at our ports and airports; through the impact on agriculture and industry; to student exchange and research partnerships, Brexit will provide challenges. But there are also opportunities. Wexford companies will now be at an advantage competing in the EU compared to UK companies. We may also be able to attract more continental tourists.’
The event will take place at the Clayton Whites Hotel on Thursday, March 30 at 8 p.m.
Confirmed speakers include former MEP Avril Doyle, Tom Enright, Chief Executive, Wexford County Council, Karl Fitzpatrick, President, Wexford Chamber, John Lynch, General Manager, Rosslare Europort, Verona Murphy, President, Irish Road Haulage Association, and Noel Whelan, Irish Times Columnist and Barrister, and James Kehoe, Wexford IFA Chair.
If anyone has any specific issues to raise they should contact Cllr Byrne on 086 2237102 or malcolm.byrne@wexfordmcc.ie.