IMPACT AND SIPTU will host a joint symposium on Brexit, on Friday 24th November, in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, County Donegal.

Focusing on the issue of the border with Northern Ireland, the symposium will examine questions of the border’s future post-Brexit. Has the border become a Brexit deal bargaining chip or is it yet another victim of the failure of ‘Brexiteers’ to consider the consequence of their folly?

IMPACT official Richy Carrothers says it’s the greatest single threat to the normalisation of life on both sides of the border. “The border, as it was, ran nearly 500km from Lough Swilly in Derry to Carlingford Lough in Louth. Now, everyday tens of thousands of people crisscross freely the border areas. Students, shoppers, tourists, commuters, school children, hauliers and workers. In fact, the border is crossed 110 million times a year.

“This figure represents the continued normalisation of politics on this Island, and of life on both sides of the border, and is reflected in the majority referendum vote (56%) in favour of ‘Remain’ in Northern Ireland. Now the British government is in the process of dismantling the rights and entitlements of EU citizenship and all that brings,” he said.

The event will run from 10.30am to 3.15pm and will feature speakers from across the trade union movement, civic society and the business community.

Richy added, “The event will have three panel discussions on the free movement of People; Brexit and public services and Brexit and the economy."

Richy is encouraging all IMPACT branches to send representatives to the symposium and take part in the discussion.

To register, please email the IMPACT Sligo office (click on the link provided) or call 071-9142400 no later than 10th November 2017.

Read Richy’s special feature on Brexit and the border in the latest edition of Work & Life HERE (hosted at issuu.com).