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Uncertainty looms over N. Ireland

CCTV.com

09-15-2016 16:46 BJT

It’s been more than two months since Great Britain voted to leave the European Union, and the British government is struggling to outline details of the country's new relationship with Brussels. Public uncertainty and skepticism is high, especially in Northern Ireland, the only land border with the European Union after Brexit.

In Northern Ireland, the retail industry is enjoying a boost after Brexit. Shoppers from the Republic of Ireland flock to Newry as the sterling falls against the euro. 

“Huge influx of Southern people come up since Brexit. They feel that there is better value in some of the things we are selling here," said Maurice Mccavitt, owner of Newry Currency Exchange Shop.

However, an air of uncertainty looms over Northern Ireland. A main concern is the lack of information available post-Brexit, such as trade agreements, labor movement and regional funding. Feargal McCormack, who operates an accountancy firms on both sides of the Irish border, said he has already started to address both the challenges and opportunities.

“Investment. It is difficult to make an investment because you cut yourself off. Look at my own situation, we don’t plan to reduce operations in the North, but quite significant shortly after Brexit, we proceed very quickly and acquired the office and further develop our operation. We already have an office in the South of Ireland. And I think people want to keep all the options open. Certainly, the uncertainty may perhaps defer investment," he said.

For farmers in Northern Ireland, financial support from the EU and access to single markets is the key to survival. Last year, 87 percent of the income of Northern Ireland farmers came from EU subsidies. At the moment, they don’t know what the future holds for the export-orientated agri-food industry.

“There is no plan for leaving and that’s a very big concern for us. You know, from access to single market, what will the rules and regulations to be? And in farming like other business, we depend on long-term plans. It is a long term business. From that point of view, uncertainty is the biggest problem at the moment," said Ivor Ferguson, Deputy President of Ulster Farmers' Union.

Naturally, people want to know what Brexit means to them. According to British Prime Minister Theresa May, "Brexit means Brexit.” Perhaps not everyone is fully satisfied with the explanation. So members the public hope that more details can be revealed to minimize their feeling of uncertainty.

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