13 Feb 2019, 15:55
As the Brexit withdrawal date of March 29 nears, tomorrow (Thursday) will see an important meeting of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
As Brexit approaches, the importance of continued engagement with stakeholder groups is more significant than ever before, with two key organisations set to come before the committee.
Representatives from East Border Region and the Irish Central Border Area Network will discuss the challenges facing border authorities, from 2.15 in Committee Room 4, Leinster House.
Ahead of the meeting, Committee Chair, Declan Breathnach, TD, said: “The Agreement must be protected in all of its parts, especially as the possibility of a disorderly Brexit threatens peace on the island of Ireland. I urge all parties to ensure that the protection of the peace process is paramount in negotiations.”
Deputy Breathnach added: “The Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), is the local authority-led cross-border development partnership which works in the area of the island known as the Central Border Region. The 8 Council members of the partnership are: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Fermanagh and Omagh, and Mid Ulster. With this in mind the contribution of ICBAN will be timely.”
The border area is currently the focal point of the Brexit negotiations, and the opportunity to hear from the East Border Region and the Irish Central Border Area Network is welcomed by the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
“Like ICBAN, East Border Region is a cross border organisation, three Local Authorities in Ireland and three in N Ireland, comprising elected members from all Political Parties – North and South – Chief Executives and senior officials from the 6 member Councils”, concluded Deputy Breathnach.
Committee proceedings can be viewed live here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/cr4-live/
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.