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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Cross-Border workers

Summary

Senator Murphy says Brexit, the pandemic and changing work practices have worsened difficulties for cross-Border workers and proposes further Seanad consideration.

I have raised the issues and challenges faced by cross-Border workers many times in the Seanad Chamber. They are a significant impediment to the growing all-Ireland economy and the prosperity across the island that we wish to see. Those challenges have been exacerbated by the Brexit experience, by the fact that the North was taken out of the European Union by the British Government against its own democratic wishes. The pandemic and the change in working conditions and arrangements have also added to some of the challenges. I have proposed that the Seanad Public Consultation Committee would do a consultation on a range of matters facing cross-Border workers. As part of the British-Irish summit in March, there was a commitment to look at the double taxation convention. I am pleased that my colleague, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, the Minister for the economy in the North has offered her support to this project to try to find some relief for cross-Border workers. I am pleased to hear from the British Treasury that a new convention is imminent. It will contain bespoke provisions for cross-Border workers, which are intended to provide greater certainty for workers and employers, reduce the need to engage with both tax administrations and lessen the payroll, reporting and double taxation relief burdens that can arise under the current arrangements. The plan is that this should make it easier for employers to offer flexible cross-Border working arrangements and reduce any burdens from tax administrations as a barrier to labour mobility. This is good news and I very much welcome it. We have been pressing for it for some time. The Government had committed over many years to making progress in this area. I am pleased work has been done with Treasury to try to move the issue forward. Something which is a significant impediment to developing the all-Ireland economy is finally being tackled, with real progress being reported. Of course, there are much wider issues than simply taxation. There are issues with accessing social protection, recognition of qualifications, and workers' rights. I have proposed that the Seanad Public Consultation Committee would do a piece of work examining some of the issues that arise from this. Nonetheless, it will be very welcome news to people who do work North to South, or South to North, that progress is being made by both Governments on this. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Finance to come before the Seanad at the earliest opportunity to give us an update on these matters and what more can be done. There was a plan to look at this double taxation issue as a forerunner to many other matters being resolved. I am keen to see further progress in this regard.

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