Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 10th meeting in 2024 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. We have received apologies from Kate Forbes.

Item 1 on our agenda is a declaration of interests. We have a change in membership and Meghan Gallacher is joining the committee, so I invite her to declare any relevant interests.

Item 2 is a decision on taking business in private. Are members content to take item 4 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Item 3 is to continue to take evidence as part of our inquiry into the review of the trade and co-operation agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. This week, we focus on the Windsor framework, including what it means for Scotland and Scottish business and its wider implications for the forthcoming TCA review.

We are joined remotely by Stuart Anderson, head of public affairs for the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK; and Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland. I welcome you all—I know that Stuart and Stephen have both taken part in the committee’s work in the past. We have received apologies from Simon McKeever, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, who cannot be with us this morning.

I open with a question. What has been the experience to date of the roll-out of the Windsor framework, and what do you see as the key challenges on the horizon? Perhaps Miss Mallon can start.

We move to questions from committee members.

I am sorry to stop you, Keith, but Nicola Mallon wants to come in on Neil Bibby’s points, so we will do that first. I am sorry about that.

Does Stephen Kelly want to comment on the question first?

I thank you all for your contributions this morning. The session was really helpful. I think that it was Nichola who mentioned that this is not an event as such. We have all learned that it is a process that will continue, and we look forward to working on it with you again in the future.

I have a small supplementary question on that. Have your members indicated that they might be changing their export model? Are we expecting a greater volume of goods coming through Cairnryan as a result of those changes?

Mr. Anderson, do you want to come in?

Thank you, Nichola Mallon. Sorry about that, Keith. You can come in now.