Brexit:Islands of Opportunity
I will be hosting ‘Brexit: Islands of Opportunity?’ on the 24th of October at 7:30PM in the Greystones Theatre. The audience will hear contributions from Robin Barnett, British Ambassador to Ireland, Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times Columnist and Dearbhail McDonald, Group Business Editor for the Independent Group. I believe that they have unique viewpoints, and important...
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
I’ve spent the best part of the past week in the UK meeting political, diplomatic, business, banking and community leaders on Brexit. I’ve sat in on Westminster debate and consulted senior security officials on Northern Ireland. And that’s the question that comes to mind. The unstoppable force is the UK government’s current Brexit trajectory....
Lack of British Gov commitment to UK-Ireland relationship post-Brexit concerning
That no UK Government Department has a working group focused on its relationship with Ireland, and the issues affecting that relationship, for when the UK leaves the European Union is a matter of serious concern at the moment. It has become apparent that 18 working groups have been set up across a variety of Government...
Barnier comments highlight need for certainty on Irish border
I welcome Mr Barnier’s comments regarding the need to protect the fundamental principles of the Good Friday Agreement and North – South relations. It’s of fundamental importance that the achievements that have been made since 1998 in promoting peace in Northern Ireland are not undone as a result of Brexit. It’s worrying that Britain is...
UK election result makes our role in Brexit more important
The UK election changes the likely impact of Brexit on Ireland. It makes a softer Brexit more likely, which is welcomed. But it also makes a ‘no deal’ outcome more likely, which would be a disaster. And it makes special status for Northern Ireland harder to achieve, which is bad news on both sides of...
Trade is Good
I was sitting close to the back of a large lecture theatre in Boston, listening to Professor Lant Pritchett’s views on globalisation. ‘Trade is good’. Lant was moving through slides on deadweight loss, World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks, comparative advantage and lots more. Every now and again that same slide would appear – three words...
