The British Irish Chamber of Commerce together with its sponsors KPMG and Ulster Bank today held the first of their #Agenda2018 breakfast seminar series assessing the implications of Brexit on Irish infrastructure, which featured a keynote speech from Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy.
The event was an opportunity for business leaders, policy makers and representative organisations in Ireland to respond to the Government’s newly published National Planning Framework and National Development Plan, how Project Ireland 2040 will Brexit-proof Irish infrastructure, the importance of adequate infrastructure to attract future investment in Ireland, and the financing of new projects going forward.
With the theme of ‘Infrastructure’, today’s event will help set the agenda for how Ireland can mitigate the risks and harness the opportunities of Brexit. Investing in ports, airports, railways, water, healthcare and broadband will prove critical to protecting Ireland’s exports to the UK and increasingly to emerging markets.
Addressing this morning’s breakfast seminar in Dublin, Minister Eoghan Murphy said:
“Project Ireland 2040 announced recently will help prepare Ireland for Brexit by taking a radically different approach to future planning and by investing in critical infrastructure. By enhancing the capacity of our ports, airports, public transport, broadband and housing, businesses in Ireland can develop new trading links across the globe. This morning’s event affords the opportunity to map out the path to a positive, sustainable future.”
Speaking at the event, John McGrane, Director General of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce said:
“In preparing for Brexit it is essential that both the UK and Ireland have the necessary infrastructure in place to support our exporting capacity. 400,000 jobs on our islands depend on this. With this in mind, we need to have a look carefully at how infrastructural expenditure can help Brexit-proof our economy in the medium to long-term.
“This event and a number of more to follow throughout 2018 are timely as the UK Government and EU seek to map out the future trading relationship. The nature of this relationship will affect all cities and regions in the UK and Ireland. Our #Agenda2018 event series recognises this by hosting events in Cork, Galway, Edinburgh, and London covering the SME and ICT sectors, as well as life sciences, finance, agribusiness and CAST. We’ve heard from Minister Murphy here today, the first of an impressive line-up of speakers who will outline how best we collectively plan for the future”, Mr McGrane added.
Sean Finlay, Chair of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Committee, said:
“From as far back as the 12th century the UK has been the most important trading partner for Ireland. Brexit will have a profound impact on how we trade in goods and services between these islands, regardless of the final outcome of the Exit negotiations we must ensure that Ireland and the UK invest in sufficient infrastructure in order to address pressure that may develop as a consequence of Brexit.
“This Seminar will place a spotlight on the Government’s ambitious ‘Project Ireland 2040’ programme and how UK and Irish stakeholders must now forge closer, deeper links in order to avoid disruption to our mutually beneficial trading relationship. “
Tomorrow morning an ICT breakfast seminar will take place, while a main Brexit seminar on Thursday will be addressed by the Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee The annual Spring Dinner on Thursday evening of this week will hear a keynote address from Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Brexit, Simon Coveney and by Robin Walker MP, UK Undersecretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union.
To watch the event online, please see: http://www.britishirishchamber.com/livestream/
Join the conversation by tweeting #Agenda2018.