POST-BREXIT ACTION PLANS NEEDED FOR OUR REGIONS

Labour Party TD for Longford-Westmeath, Willie Penrose, has called on the Government to establish regional fora to examine how the regions can minimise the impact of Brexit.

“Discussion about the potential benefits for Ireland from Brexit has largely centred on the possible gains in the IFSC. The Government seems to have done little analysis on the regions can leverage their strengths to attract new industry, investment and business in light of Brexit.

“The Labour Party is now calling for regional fora to be established to both help foster and create new jobs, and support current ones. These fora could work in tandem with the ‘Brexit Early Warning system’ as proposed by my colleague Ged Nash, in order to Brexit-proof the regions.

“In addition to establishing regional fora, the Minister for Jobs needs to re-examine the regional Action Plans for Jobs. In light of Brexit the latest Action Plans for the regions published in 2015 and 2016 are now redundant.

“Post-Brexit Action Plans for Jobs now need to be revised and updated following detailed economic analysis for the regions.”