Write a comment
The Sinn Féin leader in the Seanad, Senator Conor Murphy, has called on the Irish government to take the lead in addressing issues raised by Newry Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers from the border counties, following presentations to the Good Friday Agreement Committee earlier this week. Murphy, who is a member of the committee, also raised the matters in the Seanad on the same day.
The committee heard presentations from chambers representing Newry, Carrickmacross, Derry, Bangor, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Dundalk and Letterkenny. Senator Murphy said all of the representatives told the committee that partition is negatively impacting on businesses in their areas.
Common issues raised included cross-border employment matters such as pension arrangements, driving licences, vehicle and business insurance, working from home arrangements and the employment of workers from across the European Union. Senator Murphy said all of the chambers also spoke of infrastructural deficits in transport and wastewater treatment that are preventing businesses from expanding and developing.
He said these issues "can only be comprehensively addressed by both the Irish and British governments honouring their commitments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement" and called on the Irish government to work assertively with the British government to resolve matters affecting businesses and workers.
Murphy said this includes the Irish government advocating for significantly increased British government spending in the North, which he said "has endured decades of underinvestment." He also said the Irish government should, in addition to the work of the Shared Island Unit, help fund a stable and successful economic future in the North, adding that on a small island "any investment in the north must be seen as an investment in the economy of the entire island."
At the committee meeting, Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh proposed that the committee write to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to raise the matters discussed. Senator Murphy said he also raised the issue in the Seanad that afternoon and intends to pursue the matters further.
