Seanad Committee to discuss Brexit and transport concerns

The Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union will meet tomorrow, Thursday, 11 May at 10am in the Seanad chamber.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Session A: 10 a.m.

Transport [Ms. Anne Graham, Chief Executive, National Transport Authority; Mr. Sean Kennedy, Senior Vice-President, Airlines for America; Mr Barry Kenny, Manager, Corporate Communications, Irish Rail]

Session B: 2.30 p.m.

Engagement with former Tánaiste and former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore

Committee Chairman, Senator Neale Richmond, said: “Tomorrow the Committee will discuss the many transport issues that Brexit has raised.  There is some pressure to complete EU-funded North-South and East-West projects lest they be terminated by Brexit. Put quite starkly, if there is no Brexit deal, flights will be grounded, billions of euros will be lost and the airline industry so important to Ireland, the UK, Europe and the world will be devastated. It is vital therefore that sensible and clear solutions to the potential problems posed are agreed quickly. Other issues likely to be discussed include the rapid growth in used vehicle imports from Northern Ireland and the issue of customs clearances.”
“In the second part of the meeting, former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, will address the Committee on the main challenges he sees Brexit posing for Ireland, and how those challenges can be met.”

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.