Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on the point relating to financial services because there are some possible gains in this area. We complement and compete with London in a range of areas, so there are going to be challenges and opportunities for us.

There is a strategy for financial services job creation. It is not simply about the IFSC; there is a whole-of-Ireland approach. The aim is to create 10,000 extra jobs by 2020. The data shows we are a little ahead of profile in that regard. That is a good thing, but IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are in a state of perpetual motion working on the job creation targets and selling the brand abroad. Considerable work is being undertaken by the agencies although perhaps it is not being seen publicly - it is happening behind the scenes. The quarterly joint committee of industry and the public sector met on 20 June ahead of the vote. Since then there have been several contacts between industry and the relevant agencies. The public sector co-ordination group is meeting again next week. In so far as the strategy is concerned we are keeping our eye on the job creation targets in the light of Brexit and a special communications sub-committee was set up. It is meeting today. It will look to see how we sweat the existing action plan for 2016 in light of what has happened. For example, it will consider the plans for our missions abroad and what new missions need to be undertaken, promotional material to sell the brand in light of the new reality and what needs to go into the action plan for 2017.

The second European financial forum will be held in January. Through this, Ireland tries to position itself, similar to the process for the Asian financial forum. Of course, we are the gateway. Ireland is the way in and that will present a major opportunity for the country in light of what has happened. By that point, perhaps, we will have a little more certainty on what direction the UK is going.

Reference was made to Enterprise Ireland. I was with some Enterprise Ireland exporting companies on Friday. Those involved had spent the entire day dealing with the currency fluctuations and the associated difficulties. EI has a number of strategies and contingencies in place. These are outlined in the summary contingency framework that was published recently. I spoke with those involved yesterday on some of the actions that might need to be taken and the new trade missions that may need to be put in place quickly.