Fianna Fail Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien has demanded that the Government ensures the full protection of the export sector in Ireland, ahead of Britain’s exit from the European and Custom Union.
Earlier this week, Deputy O’Brien and the Fianna Fail Brexit team travelled to Brussels to meet with key stakeholders across industries to discuss to potential challenges and impact on Irish trade sectors. Commenting following British Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech yesterday, he said, “Prime Minister May took the opportunity yesterday to reiterate that Britain will be leaving the single market, the customs union and the Common Fisheries Policy. “This has the potential to have a major negative impact on our economy both North and South. There has already been a negative impact on the border counties and on small businesses due to the sterling depreciation”. "I believe the Irish Government must prioritise and expedite contingency planning to ensure that the areas of our economy which are particularly vulnerable to the impact of Brexit are protected as best as possible. “Large parts of our economy that trade heavily with Britain are frankly not "Brexit ready.” The Government now needs to show real leadership, particularly in light of the British Prime Minister's speech. “It was clear during yesterday’s speech that Britain holds little understanding of the European Unions' absolute determination to protect the integrity of the Single Market and Customs Union. "Prime Minister May and her Government seem intent on insisting that they can cherry pick from the EU what suits them and certain sectors of the UK economy, whilst discarding their responsibilities. The four freedoms of the European Union will be protected and rightly so. “I sincerely hope that the December agreement remains as the Taoiseach described; “bullet proof.” Deputy O’Brien concluded, “The British Prime Minister acknowledged yesterday that leaving the Single Market will result in less access to their market, therefore, the Irish Government and European colleagues must ensure every effort is made to support all export sectors across Ireland.” Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has said that Transport Minister Shane Ross’s failure to meet with the Dublin Airport Authority to specifically discuss Brexit shows his negligence as a Government Minister.
The Deputy made his comments in light of information he received through a Parliamentary Question which he tabled to the Department of Transport and which has revealed that Minister Ross has not met with the DAA to explicitly discuss Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Deputy commented, “I am appalled by the Minister’s hands-off approach to what is an existential threat for the DAA, the aviation industry and my own constituency of Dublin Fingal in particular. “The Minister acknowledges in his own response that should the UK leave the single aviation market without a replacement agreement: ‘existing traffic rights could be negatively impacted, including the rights of Irish licensed airlines to fly between the UK and Ireland, the UK and the rest of the EU, within the UK, and between the UK and a range of other third countries’. “Despite it being wholly apparent that Brexit will pose much difficulty for the aviation industry, it is clear that Minister Ross is not treating it with the attention that it requires. “The Minister’s laissez-faire approach towards Brexit is symptomatic of the Government’s failure to produce any plans for the sectors of the Irish economy which will be left most exposed to and affected by the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. “Irish tourism is heavily reliant on the connectivity between Dublin and Britain. Almost 4.5m people flew between Irish and British capitals last year, while the Dublin-London route remains the second busiest in the world. Minister Ross needs to recognise how crucial it is that Ireland minimises the possible implications from Brexit on our country’s main transport hub. “Almost a year has passed since the British Referendum vote to leave the EU and it Minister Ross has not engaged with the relevant bodies to address their concerns and ensure that they are adequately equipped to deal with the many challenges ahead,” concluded O’Brien. -Govt must set out Ireland's position and rationale for decision-
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify how Ireland voted on Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to secure a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women. O’Brien commented, “Saudi women are essentially treated as second class citizens, with their ability to carry out everyday tasks severely limited through a system of male guardianship and discriminatory policies. The idea that this regime would now contribute to policy discussions on the status of women sends out a very negative signal to those campaigning for equal rights in Saudi Arabia and around the world. "Indeed, human rights monitors are highly critical of what has happened, and a debate is taking place in a number of countries about whether their decision was correct. While the Belgian Government has apologised for its stance, the Irish Government point blank refuses to say how we voted as a country and to explain that decision. This position is unacceptable. “I have written to the Clerk of the Oireachtas Committee for Foreign Affairs and Trade to request that committee members are given the opportunity to discuss the Irish Government’s vote on Saudi Arabia’s bid to take a seat on the UN Commission. I am pleased that the Clerk has confirmed with me that members will debate the matter at our next meeting. I will also be pressing the Foreign Affairs Minister on the issue in the Dáil later this afternoon.” My colleague Cllr Darragh Butler and I have received a notice from Fingal County Council in relation to an application the council has received from Eir for permission to temporarily close roads in the Belinstown Swords area for the purpose of carrying out upgrade works to the Eir Network.
It is proposed that the roads will be closed from 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday 22nd May until Friday 26th May 2017. The roads in question are: L5190 Batter Lane (Jamestown Lane). Alternative routes available for vehicular traffic are as follows: Motorists travelling northbound along the L5115 Magillstown Road from the R125 or the L2038 Balheary Road wishing to use L5190 Batter Lane should continue along L5115 to the R129 and take a right turn at the junction of L5110/R129 onto R129. Motorists should continue along the R129 to the junction with the R132 and take a right turn onto the R132 then continue along the R132 to the second roundabout taking the 3rd exit onto the L5190 Batter Lane. Motorists travelling southbound along L5115 wishing to use L5190 should take a left turn at the junction of L5115/L6100 onto L6100, then take a left turn at the junction of L6100/R132 onto R132 and continue along R132 through M1 Junction 4, then take the first exit at the roundabout at the junction of R132/L5190. Motorists travelling northbound on the R132 (or those travelling along the R132 from the M1) or southbound along the R132 wishing to use the L5190 Batter Lane should take the 2nd exit at the roundabout at Batter Lane if travelling southbound on the R132 or the 4th exit at the roundabout if travelling northbound on the R132. Motorists should then continue along the R132 travelling through the M1 Junction 4 to the Estuary Road roundabout and take the 3rd exit.Motorists should continue along the R125 taking a right turn at the signalised junction to travel along the L2038 Balheary Road to the L5115 Magillstown Road. Local access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. Any person may lodge an objection in writing with the Senior Executive Officer, Operations Unit, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 to arrive no later than 4.00p.m on Friday 5th May 2017. As soon as I receive any further information I will be back in touch. My colleague Cllr Brian Dennehy and I have received a notice from Fingal County Council regarding an order the council has issued temporarily closing roads in Rush, Co. Dublin, following an application from Jons Civil Engineering Company Ltd for the purpose of carrying out upgrade works to the existing foul sewer network on behalf of Irish Water as part of the Rush Waste Water Collection Project.
The roads will be closed on a phased basis from 10:00am Monday 15th May 2017 until 6:00pm Tuesday 12th September 2017. The roads in question are: Phase 1: South Shore Road will be closed from its junction with Sandy Lane to its junction with the Golf Road through to the Corrs Lane /Channel Road junction. The works are sequential and both roads will not be closed at the one time. When works are underway on the South Shore Road the Golf Road will remain open and when works are underway on the Golf Road the South Shore Road will be open to traffic. The Golf Road/South Shore Road junction will remain open to allow for access to the Golf Club and local businesses. This phase will be closed from 10:00am Monday 15th May 2017 until 6:00pm Friday 2nd June 2017. Phase 2: South Shore Road will be closed from its junction with Hands Lane to its junction with Sandy Lane. This phase will be closed from 6:00pm Friday 2nd June until 6:00pm Tuesday 12th September 2017. Alternative routes available for vehicular traffic are as follows: Phase 1: Vehicles wishing to access to the west of the road closure at the Golf Road/South Shore Road junction can divert via Channel Road onto the South Shore Road at the Spout Road junction continuing on the South Shore Road to its junction with Linkside then heading eastwards on the South Shore Road towards the Golf Road. Vehicles wishing to access the South Shore Road to the east of Sandy Lane can divert at the Lower Main Street/ Hands Lane junction. Phase 2: Access to South Shore Road between the Sandy Lane/ South Shore junction, Hands Lane/South Shore junction and the South Shore Carpark will be for local access only. There will be Road Closed Ahead / Local Access Only signs at the Hands Lane/ Upper Main Street junction, the Sandy Road / Upper Main Street junction and the Golf Road/South Shore Road junction. Diversions are via Corrs Lane/Golf Road. Local access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. O’Brien welcomes EU confirmation of its obligation to uphold the Good Friday Agreement in full2/5/2017
- Real work on trade and social links begins now -
- Ireland has most to lose from a hard Brexit - Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Trade Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the agreement reached by the EU27 to recognise the unique situation that Ireland faces in the wake of the British decision to leave the EU. The guidelines agreed in Brussels included a guarantee that Northern Ireland would be able to rejoin the EU in the event of reunification. Deputy O’Brien commented, “The agreement reached yesterday reflects the concerns which we have been raising since the Brexit vote last June. Fianna Fáil has been to the forefront of calls to ensure that a special status for Ireland was included in any deal. We have been working with our partners in Europe, Alde, in raising these issues and I welcome the work that has been undertaken by the Government to achieve this. “This agreement reflects the importance of the Irish situation, and it is imperative that this remains to the fore in all future negotiations. The guidelines copperfasten the terms of Good Friday Agreement and provides a clear path forward, however this is only the beginning of a very complex process and the Government must ensure that Ireland’s distinct concerns are not side-lined or downgraded in the months and years ahead. “The real work starts now. Minister Flanagan and all of his Cabinet colleagues must continue to pursue the best deal to ensure that jobs and trade links are protected. The UK has traditionally been our largest trading partner with around €1.2bn in goods and services going between the two countries on a weekly basis, with hundreds of thousands of jobs across a range of sectors reliant on this business. “The Government must continue working with our European partners to ensure the future security of the EU project and Ireland’s role within it. Our future is in the EU and we must protect it”. |
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