Ken Murphy of the Law Society of Ireland highlighted to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs in July, that the 1989 mutual recognition of qualifications directive permits solicitors who are qualified in Ireland to transfer to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales. In times of recession, many Irish solicitors transferred to the English or Welsh roll. However, since 2016, Ireland has witnessed a large influx of solicitors from England and Wales registering with the Irish roll of solicitors. This has created the potential for Dublin to become a major legal hub within the EU. Once the UK leaves the EU, Ireland will become the only English-speaking common-law country within the bloc and Ireland will be the only common law member state of the EU. This provides Ireland with the opportunity to become a great legal hub within the EU and Irish solicitors will have a great advantage. Again, L&D can ensure that the Irish legal sector is prepared to accommodate this influx of solicitors from the UK and that Irish solicitors are prepared for possibilities across the EU post-Brexit.


A delegation of industry leaders from Ireland visited some organisations in USA earlier this year with precisely that in mind – to lure investment and jobs to Ireland. There is evidence that Ireland is benefitting from investment from Europe and the US which would have previously been directed to Britain. However, it is also true that any expansion in the technology sector will again lead to increased skills needs in areas such as project management, marketing and other core technical skills. As reflected in the CIF/PwC Ireland Survey 2019: Brexit and the Irish Construction Sector, the construction sector industry is another that has the potential to benefit from Brexit due to the expected relocation of UK-based companies and workers to Ireland. However, once again, according to the Survey, ‘the current skills shortages’ in the construction sector could impede this possible growth, with 23% of respondents expressing concerns around the availability of adequately trained employees. It goes onto argue that ‘significant support’ is required ‘to develop construction related trades and professional education’ to tackle this skills shortfall.


In the UK, organisations are preparing for a more difficult struggle than ever to retain talented staff. Indeed, recruitment teams in Britain have already seen a decrease in applications for vacancies from mainland Europe. This will present opportunities for Irish based companies to address some of our own recruitment challenges as individuals relocate from the UK or look for opportunities in Ireland. The British and Irish Governments released a Memorandum of Understanding on May 8th, 2019, which confirmed that the Common Travel Area would remain in place after Britain had exited the European Union; this includes ‘the recognition of qualifications’ and freedom of movement between both jurisdictions.


As demonstrated, Brexit is likely to present Ireland, our economy, our businesses and our workforce with many challenges in the coming months and years ahead. However, to quote UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, let us here in Ireland not be ‘doubters’, ‘doomsters’ or ‘gloomsters’ about the future of Ireland’s economy. While Brexit has, and will continue to present the economy with many challenges, it has also afforded it some opportunities. The L&D sector must ensure it remains agile, flexible and responsive to this changing world of work. Learning and Development can support the redirection of investment and talent and help businesses grow, develop and diversify in light of the uncertain and unpredictable future we are now facing.


Noelle O Connell is Executive Director of European Movement Ireland since April 2011. EM Ireland is Ireland’s longest established Not for Profit membership organisation dedicated to developing the connection between Ireland and Europe (founded in 1954).


Prior to leading EM Ireland, Noelle provided business development training, education and public affairs consultancy to a variety of private and public sector clients. She is a fellow of IITD.


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