Need quick advice from the pros!

[shifty]

Okay - here's my situation. Sorry for the big picture, but I want to show everything here.

Okay, I'm working on punching through the hydraulics for my clutch.
I was mapping out everything for the easiest possible punch-through spot - and this is what I came up with.

It goes right through the weld-in that forms a horseshoe over the column hole.

My questions:

1) If I remove the red circle section displayed, what is the possible impact?
Should I weld anything into place to reinforce?
I won't be putting pressure on that spot after drilling it - nothing will be bolted to the firewall there...
(I'm bolting the hydraulic cylinder to a bracket that will fasten using the stock nuts above it!)

2) There is a purple circle shown also - I am curious - My grommet there is split in half (half missing).
Does anyone sell this part? If so, what the heck is it called, and is it possible to replace?
How do you get it on the e-brake line?