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David Davis PA Wire/PA Images

David Davis admits UK hasn't produced any Brexit impact assessment as he's 'not a fan'

Davis was called before the House of Commons Brexit committee after MPs expressed dissatisfaction in him.

BRITAIN’S BREXIT MINISTER David Davis has come under fire after admitting to MPs that the government has made no official assessment of the impact of Brexit on various sectors of the UK economy.

Davis was called before the House of Commons Brexit committee after MPs were dissatisfied with the “sectoral analysis” provided to the committee by the government.

He told the committee that “he wasn’t a fan of economic models because they have all proven wrong”, citing the 2008 economic crisis as an example of their inability to model “paradigm” changes.

The government initially said it would provide the committee with an 850-page assessment of Brexit’s impact on 58 economic sectors.

However, Davis said the studies were merely “sectoral analyses”, which did not predict the effects of leaving the EU.

When asked about whether there were impact assessments completed on the financial services, automotive and aerospace, Davis said: “I think the answer is going to be no for all of them.”

“You don’t need to do an impact assessment, a formal impact assessment to understand that if there is a regulatory hurdle between our producers and a market that it will have an impact, it all has an effort,” David told MPs.

“The assessment of that effect, I think I have said it to you before, is not as straightforward as people imagine.

“I am not a fan of economic models because they have all proven wrong.”

The fact that no impact studies had been for aviation, automobiles and financial services drew derision.

Commission chair Hilary Benn said: ”On the most fundamental change that we are facing as a country you’ve just told us that the government hasn’t undertaken any impact assessments at all.”

Davis said there would be such studies “at some stage” when Brexit negotiations move on to the second phase, but other lawmakers also hit out.

“Davis is either grossly incompetent or someone who struggles with the truth and treats MPs with contempt,” said Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas.

“Either way, he should be out of his job.”

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron also called for Davis to step down, writing on Twitter that under his leadership “the Brexit department has turned incompetence into an art form.”

MPs have also approached House of Commons speaker John Bercow about the possibility of a contempt motion against Davis, but the move appears unlikely after the committee voted it down by 11 members to eight.

With reporting by AFP. 

Read: Garda and another man injured in Dublin shooting

More: Theresa May to make fresh offer on Irish border as Varadkar says he didn’t block DUP seeing deal

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    Mute Annie Citric
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:05 PM

    Welcome!

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    Mute MickeyC
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:14 PM

    Welcome your are valued and respected for your brave move.

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    Mute Benjamin Dolan
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:09 PM

    Good man Nasir welcome to Ireland,
    But never abandon your own people.
    Keep their problems in the limelight

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:15 PM

    It is people like this we need to enrich our society, unfortunately economic migrants don’t stop to think about the damage they are causing to genuine asylum seekers……….

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:20 PM

    @Sean Higgins: And the difference between the two is…do you know?

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:27 PM

    @Maxwell Eddizon: No…¡

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:39 PM

    @Maxwell Eddizon:

    Asylum Seeker
    a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.

    Economic Migrant:
    a person who enters another country in search of work.

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    Mute Ciara Ni Mhurchu
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:46 PM

    @Sean Higgins: And every irish person who has emigrated since the 20th century has been an economic migrant.

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:46 PM

    @Sean Higgins: Wrong. An economic migrant comes to improve his living standards…

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:50 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: fair enough but how many claimed asylum in the countries they moved to?

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:52 PM

    @Maxwell Eddizon: does the word economic not give it away, anyway I’d rather not get into a debate with a lad who answers his own questions, see above………..

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:53 PM

    @Sean Higgins: 11.5¿

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    Mute Floyd Ofthemoon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:54 PM

    @Maxwell Eddizon: sure didnt he say he was genuine ,is that not enough for you

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:56 PM

    @Sean Higgins: No debate – just Google it and you’ll quickly see I’m correct!

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Mar 20th 2018, 1:27 AM

    @Maxwell Eddizon: does searching for work not come under the heading of improving living standards?

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    Mute Laura Sova
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    Mar 20th 2018, 7:39 AM

    @Sean Higgins: Who then would clean hotel rooms, serve food in mcdonalds and restaurants or picking mushrooms in cold temperatures, etc…there are thousands of economic migranst from eastern Europe who work really hard to improve their living standards. Unfortunately EU is not about the same standards for every states. If some of irish people are desperate for work, in my country we have the highest production of cars in Europe. The industry is booming. Hovewer, in Germany factory workers get around 8,5 eur per hour. In my country people can earn from 3-5 eur per hour, with nights and overtime even over 1000 eur. We have still high unemployment in many regions in the country. But we have very good weather, cheaper alcohol and cigarrets,but groceries, clothes and electronics cost as much as in Ireland and yes, we pay for usage of water (by the way owned by French). Welcome in an EU

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    Mute Johnny Bellew
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    Mar 20th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: True.

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    Mute Johnny Bellew
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    Mar 20th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Sean Higgins: They cannot claim asylum if they are not being persecuted inn their home country. Are you aware of Irish citizens fleeing their country due to persecution?

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    Mute Laura Sova
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    Mar 20th 2018, 9:44 PM

    Sorry for every imperfection in my written English ;-) Particles in my native language don’t exist. I just wanted to add I wish there would be more tourists from the west in my country and in all eastern Europe. It would help our tourism and economy in general. But this is a bit utopian idea. Better to keep emigrating or staying making cars for 480-700eur, working in lidl or cleaning rooms for 400eur or in case of having a degree to move to a capital city, where earning 600-1200eur is much better while paying rent from 200-500eur per month and higher. I just correct our minimum wage per hour is 2,5eur. If you want to buy a property the average price per meter square is 1475eur. In the capital city, it could be even more than 3000 eur per meter square. According the latest statistics average cost of diesel: 0,96 (Switzerland), 1.08 (Poland), 1,22 (Ireland), 1,18 (my home country), 1,10 (Austria). Cost of unleaded 95: 0,95 (Switzerland), 1,10 (Poland), 1,33 (Ireland), 1,35 (my home country) and 1,05 our richer neighbour Austria. The highest fuel prices are recorded in the Norway, Italy, France and Portugal. And I know Ireland has the fourth most expensive electricity cost.

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    Mute Robert Preston
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    Mar 21st 2018, 7:18 PM

    @Sean Higgins: “Enriched” No thanks sound likes forced multiculturism . All of Africa or the world can head for Europe as refugees .

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    Mute Noxious Jellyfish
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    Mar 26th 2018, 2:56 PM

    @Sean Higgins: economic migrants can simply mean someone who moves to a different country to avail of its social benefits too.

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Mar 26th 2018, 7:43 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Every person who emigrated from Ireland many years ago helped to build that Country they went to. That is why they were welcomed and yes there are migrants who work in this Country now and that is good. What about the people who come here and want to do nothing? It is mostly the Government’s fault as there’s no planning for the Migrant intake in other Wordsl they are feeding from the one breakfast bowl.

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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:16 PM

    Nasir Great to have you here and looking forward to hear your opinions and culture

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    Mute Andrew Eager
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    Mar 19th 2018, 11:14 PM

    @Thee Orson Welles: Please publish YOUR name, and stand over your opinions, you anonymous coward.

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    Mute DAVID DOH
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    Mar 20th 2018, 12:01 AM

    @Thee Orson Welles: well SAID

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    Mute itzme
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:31 PM

    He studied irish literature and is learning English. Well done.

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:31 PM

    Céad míle fáilte, sir!

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    Mute The flute smoker
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:08 PM

    Welcome .Try the stew Its delightful

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    Mute Joe Timbs
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    Mar 20th 2018, 10:30 AM

    @the druid: Coddle – proof that the eyes are a key part of the enjoyment of eating – coddle is a fantastic winter dish, but looks awful!

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    Mute John D
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    Mar 20th 2018, 4:36 PM

    @the druid: had it at the Gravediggers in Glasnevin last week, can’t wait to go back for more.

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    Mute Bhiniáimin Ó Beith
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:17 PM

    Clearly a talented man we need to stop keeping talented people in dp when clearly they have a lot to contribute. Guys like this should just be given irish passport I don’t see any reason why not.

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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:24 PM

    @Bhiniáimin Ó Beith: he’s still needs to go through the process first .. can’t be just handing out an Irish passport on the grounds that he seems a great man .

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    Mute Maxwell Eddizon
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:26 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: we need a few though

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    Mute Avril Flynn
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    Mar 20th 2018, 12:01 AM

    Lovely to see new faces to Ireland that will enrich our culture. It is wonderful to see a talented Journalist and Artist finding new purpose and of course safety and being able to express his opinions without fear and punishment ….You are so welcome sir, many thanks for sharing your story and lovely to see x

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    Mute Paul Kersey
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    Mar 20th 2018, 9:46 AM

    Wonderful little stories Luke these are meant to keep us all quiet, I’m sure this guy is a genuine person. My issue is the number of people coming in, I fear nobody has ran the numbers, we should not keep taking in people until we can sort out our own people. It’s not fair on people coming in, where do these people live? How do we feed, cloth them? Is there room in schools for children? Can health service cope? If we are going to help people, let’s help them properly. Liberal social justice warriors just want to show how good and noble they are. What about after the fact?!

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    Mute ihcalaM
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    Mar 19th 2018, 10:46 PM

    Welcome Nasir. Keep writing about your country, the Sudan crisis has never really gotten the media attention it deserves. Never ever give in to clerical bullies like the NIF.

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    Mute Majella Ryan
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    Mar 20th 2018, 12:11 AM

    Welcome Nasir. I hope Ireland provides you and your family with s safe environment where you can all grow and flourish.

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    Mute Paul Maher
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    Mar 20th 2018, 1:55 AM

    Great to hear a good sided story for a change, a land of a thousand welcomes to all peaceful law abiding people…

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    Mute Tony Mc Donald
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    Mar 20th 2018, 2:06 PM

    @Paul Maher: Muppet!

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    Mute Cian Keogh
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    Mar 19th 2018, 11:39 PM

    Failte roimh dhearthair

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    Mute Marcus Massey
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    Mar 20th 2018, 2:35 AM

    Welcome sir!

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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Mar 20th 2018, 4:04 PM

    I have 5 of his paintings and we sponsored his art supplies by bartering… a very nice and genuine man

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Mar 20th 2018, 5:28 AM

    You are most welcome to our country!

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    Mute joe oneill
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    Mar 20th 2018, 1:37 AM

    Poor man ending up Longford.

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    Mute Hugh Kearney
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    Mar 20th 2018, 3:45 AM

    Really nice story. Hope you embrace and lead as an example of 1 mans passion for what he does. Fair fooks.

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    Mute Clare Butler
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    Mar 20th 2018, 9:48 AM

    Welcome Nasir! Good to have you here

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Mar 20th 2018, 8:29 AM

    Welcome Nasir, good hard working people are always welcome !

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    Mute Sorcha Grisewood
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    Mar 20th 2018, 8:10 PM

    You are very welcome here and I hope your asylum case is processed quickly and that you and your family are happy in Ireland. Cead Mile Failte!

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