TD to visit Sligo over Brexit fears
A Government TD is set to visit Sligo as fears over the impact of Brexit on border counties grows.
The impact on the fall of Sterling on trade in border counties has also been highlighted by Sligo businessman Finbarr Filan at a conference to discuss Brexit in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham.
The day long All Island Civil Dialogue Conference on Brexit focused on the potential impact by the triggering of Brexit on Irish businesses and featured speakers from a broad range of disciplines including politics, commerce and economics
A large number of business people from the border counties were in attendance and in this capacity, Mr Filan participated in discussion with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ministers Simon Coveney, Frances Fitzgerald, Charlie Flanagan and the Louth TD, Fergus O’Dowd.
Commenting on the event, Mr Filan, who represented Sligo Chamber of Commerce said: “I was interested in the tone of the presentations and discussions.
“There was a lot of emphasis on the possible positive benefits to Ireland in two or three years time – however here in a border county, we need a focus on the immediate and present situation,” he said.
Topics raised by Mr Filan to those in the various groups included the imbalance in regional development and lack of foreign direct investment and the effect of the fall in sterling on trade in the border region.
An Taoiseach stated to Mr Filan that he has instructed Deputy Fergus O’Dowd to work directly with the border counties to begin actively working on a plan to address Brexit.
Mr Filan invited Mr O’Dowd to Sligo in November.
As arrangements for the meeting are underway, it is the intention to have Mr O’Dowd, who has responsibility for working with the counties most affected by Brexit, to meet local Sligo business people and begin preparing for possible impact from the triggering of Article 50.