Businesses told no time for heads in the sand

Businesses were warned not to adopt an ‘ostrich approach’ but to start preparing now for the impact which Brexit will have.

With Britain set to leave the EU in April 2019, the importance of being prepared was highlighted by several speakers at last week’s conference.

While the exact nature of how Britain will maintain its relationship with the EU has yet to be established, companies were told that they have to start planning for major changes in how they do business in the future.

Anne Lannigan, head of Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit Unit, warned that they were ‘facing more challenges than opportunities’ and advised companies to talk to their customers and staff about what they envisaged these challenges would be,

The message from Dundalk Chamber of Commerce ‘is to plan’, stressed PRO Paddy Malone. He advised that businesses would be able to get a lot of information and supports from Newry-based Inter Trade Ireland, which is funded by both Governments after the Good Friday Agreement.

Dr Conor Patterson, PRO, Newry Chamber of Commerce, described the situation as ‘a mess - that’s why we’re here.’

He also referred to the lack of political leadership due to the suspension of Stormont and stressed the need for a strong political voice from Northern Ireland in London to point out the impact which Brexit will have on the Northern Ireland economy as a whole.

Businesses need to look at the impacts which various Brexit scenarios would have on them and he advised them to look at the information provided by Inter Trade Ireland which looks at how different sectors will be affected,

The Irish border ‘is the issue’, he continued, and the Chambers were lobbying everyone with influence to ensure that it remains a ‘soft’ border.

Speakers also highlighted steps which businesses could be taking regarding sourcing products and services, looking at how customs and logistics will affect them post-Brexit, of being aware of the challenges posed by currency fluctuations as well as making sure they are compliant with various tax and excise regulations.

‘We don’t want companies sticking their heads in the sand,’ stated Paddy Malone.

A ‘ hard border’ would be ‘an absolute disaster’ from a social point of view, said Dundalk Sinn Fein councillor Ruairi O Mhurchu. He describe the situation as ‘an absolute shambles and disasters’.

‘We have to plan for the worst and hope it doesn’t happen,’ said Paddy Malone. ‘If we don’t a lot of SMEs will e in trouble.

‘ This (Brexit) is going to change every aspect of life, cultural, social, health, education,’ he continued. ‘Every aspect of our lives here have been affected.’