Assessing the post-Brexit effect on local business in Dublin South West
DUBLIN South West Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy writes this week about a Brexit meeting he held recently in Tallaght for local businesses, many of which raised the issue of exports to the UK as a principal concern – with 90 per cent of 200 local businesses surveyed active exporters to the UK.
I was delighted to host a public forum on Brexit in the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght recently.
Guest speakers on the night included Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform TD Paschal Donohoe, Economist Jim Power, CEO of the Small Firms Association Patricia Callan and local South Dublin Chamber CEO Peter Byrne.
The speakers made brief introductory remarks and then the meeting was opened to an in-depth question and answers session.
A number of our local residents and business people based in Tallaght spoke about some of their issues and queries on the unknown impact of Brexit.
Business people particularly raised the matter of exports to the UK as a principal concern. Recent studies conducted by South Dublin Chamber among its members stated that of the 200 local businesses surveyed, 90 per cent of those businesses were active exporters. 61.1 per cent of businesses within South Dublin Chamber export to the UK, 49.1 per cent export to Northern Ireland.
Speaking on these figures Peter Byrne, CEO of South Dublin Chamber said that, ‘if you’re in business you should be assessing your risks, Brexit is a risk.”
The tone of the meeting was generally upbeat and focused on the potential opportunities to attract businesses to Ireland as the only remaining English speaking member state of the European Union.
However, as Patricia Callan of the Small Firms Association said, ‘we are going to see a much harder Brexit that we would have liked’.
One local businessman spoke about how he had been approached by investors based in the UK who spoke to him about the opportunities of moving the export side of his manufacturing business to the UK in order to avoid any potential taxes or tariffs in the future.
This would, in essence split his company in two, leaving a base in Tallaght and a base in the UK. The net effect will mean job losses for Tallaght.
As a TD representing Dublin South West, any potential job loss is something I will be opposing vigorously – but I genuinely see opportunities for us here. My focus will continue to be on attracting jobs to this area. Our location is appealing to employers because of its excellent transport links and skilled workforce.
Other issues that were raised on the night ranged from the EU’s peacekeeping missions, to addressing political unrest across Europe as well as the impact of a potential hard border with Northern Ireland.
I concluded the meeting by thanking people for their contributions and along with Minister Paschal Donohoe reaffirmed Fine Gael and the Government’s commitment to finding the most beneficial solution post-Brexit for the Irish people.
