Danny Healy-Rae warns over 35,000 jobs at risk from no-deal Brexit
Danny Healy-Rae warned that a no-deal Brexit could cost over 35,000 jobs in companies directly or indirectly exporting to the UK and called for urgent government action. He said rural communities, farmers, small SMEs, exporters and fishermen face serious harm and need immediate support.
Projected job losses
The deputy cited an economic research estimate that Ireland could lose over 35,000 jobs in firms connected to exports to the UK, stressing that the majority of those jobs are in rural areas already under strain.
Impact on exporters and local employers
He named local exporters including Munster Joinery, Libors, and Fexico and described thousands of jobs tied to cross-Channel trade. He highlighted success stories of people from his area working and trading in the UK and beyond, and expressed hope their livelihoods would not be damaged by a hard Brexit.
Fishermen, waters and immediate supports
He warned about the prospect of the UK taking back some waters and said this could severely reduce fishermen's ability to make a living. He called for financial support for fishermen and urged that help be provided immediately.
Ports, ferries and the land bridge to Europe
He argued for investment in ports and ferries to secure a reliable land bridge to mainland Europe, saying the State may need to buy ferries and upgrade facilities to protect trade flows and exporters.
North-South trade and government accountability
He emphasised that the north of Ireland is part of the country with active cross-border trade that must not be interrupted. He appealed to the government to deal with tariffs, customs and other issues expeditiously and criticised leaving too much to the last day, while acknowledging COVID is occupying much government time.
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Deputy Danny Healey Ray. Thank you, Cahirach. It is possible, and hopefully not, we are taught by an economic research gentleman based, have focused in their latest publication that Ireland could lose over 35,000 jobs in companies directly or indirectly involved with exporting to the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The majority of these jobs are in rural areas, and these rural areas are badly affected enough as it is without hurting them any further. The part of the country that I come from and represent, we have Munster Joinery, and Libors, and Fexico, who are exporting and are dealing in the UK day in and day out. Thousands of jobs, thousands of jobs, thousands of jobs are involved, and if these places were to be put or closed down, or cut down in jobs, could affect our local economy in a desperate way. Farmers and small SMEs are very, very worried at the present time, because as we know, the greater part of their work and produce is being exported to the UK, and they need serious help. We have wonderful people, even working in London and the UK, people like Dan Kim or Sullivan from the Hat of South Kerry, who implies over two and a half thousand people. We have a young employer in the UK, a young employer, and who is working and employing people in the US and the UK as well, in London, Mike Jack, Mike Jack from Killarney, and we are very proud of him and his venture with thermal homes, insulated homes, and he is making headway and has been making progress in the UK. In the UK, we hope that this break away, if they do go, and there is only a hard deal, we hope that it won't affect these honest hardworking people. You see, we are importing and exporting, and like Deputy Collins said there, I am very worried about the fishermen, and the prospect of England taking back some of our waters. This could greatly reduce our fishermen's ability to take a living out of the sea, and they need support, and financial support, and they need it right away. We need to invest in our ports and our ferries, and we are very worried about the land bridge to Europe. We must have our own facility and mechanisms and ways to get on mainland Europe. We are only a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and government needs to realise that, and to deal with it, and if we have to buy ferries, and if we have to upgrade our ports, we have to do that. We have to ensure that our farmers and business people are not compromised. In relation to the north of Ireland, we greatly respect our interaction with the north of Ireland. It is part of our country. It is part of our country. There is only a ditch that separates north and south, and there is trade going on up and down, and we hope that this is not interrupted or interfered with it in any way, because it would have a devastating effect on local work and business. And tariffs and customs regulations. I am appealing to the government to ensure that these matters are dealt with, and dealt with expeditiously. Why are we leaving everything to the last day? There is too much left to do, and I feel the government have lost a lot of time, and I know the coronavirus and COVID is taking up a lot of time, but we have to delegate and make sure that these matters are properly and expeditiously dealt with. Thank you very much.
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