Louth councillor seeks government meeting on threat to business in border area

Mid-Louth councillor, Dolores Minogue, has requested a County Louth centred meeting with the government over the threat to business in the border area, due to the introduction of tariffs on goods being exported to America.

Cllr Minogue says that due the fact that the Republic of Ireland is subject to 20%, with Northern Ireland facing 10%, an an uneven system is set to operate on the island. In the long term, the Fine Gael councillor says, she is anxious that such a situation will have a major impact on business in the border region, in particular.

Cllr Minogue told the Dundalk Democrat: “This creates a deeply unfair trading environment and puts businesses in Louth at a significant disadvantage compared to those just across the border. For local companies trading with or exporting to the US, this could undermine their competitiveness and threaten long-term viability.”

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Cllr Minogue says she wants discussions at at EU level for protections or flexibilities for border counties such as Louth, and support for SMEs in dealing with increased costs and uneven trading conditions. “I want to ensure that this issue is being raised in any upcoming trade or diplomatic discussions with U.S. representatives,” she added.

The Ardee councillor is also requesting a meeting at Leinster House with a small delegation from County Louth, including political representatives and members of the business community, to outline actions and plans.

“This would provide an opportunity to present a unified local view and help ensure the message is brought back to the wider business and political network across the county. “Our local economy is deeply exposed to these developments, and I want to assure constituents that this issue is being taken seriously at national level,” she said.