Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
498. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meeting with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce on 29 August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38097/17]
View answerAs part of my ongoing engagement with stakeholders across the island of Ireland, I spoke at a breakfast briefing for the members of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, 29 August 2017, in Belfast. The event was attended by over 60 representatives of businesses from all across Northern Ireland, many of whom have cross-border operations.
The event was an important opportunity for me to hear the key concerns in the context of Brexit from businesses operating in Northern Ireland and to inform and update them on developments in the Brexit negotiations and the efforts being made by the Government to protect the hard-won peace and prosperity that is underpinned by the all-island economy made possible through the Good Friday Agreement and the Peace Process.
I strongly encouraged the business representatives present to use the window of opportunity of this current phase of negotiations, while the focus is on the issues unique to the island of Ireland, to ensure their voices are heard.
I reiterated the Government’s position that the current border arrangement has been a vital part of our shared peace and prosperity and the Government’s conviction that the best way to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland is for the UK to remain in the Customs Union and Single Market.
My remarks delivered at the breakfast briefing are available publicly at www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/speeches/speeches-archive/2017/august/minister-coveney-remarks-to-ni-chamber-of-commerce/.
