Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her presentation. I welcome the decrease in unemployment. As the Minister has said on numerous occasions, every job that is created is very important. When a person gets a job, it can change a whole family. The decrease in unemployment is very welcome.

I would like to pick up on the Chairman's question about Enterprise Ireland by teasing out one specific part of its role with the Minister. As we are all aware, tomorrow the British are going to trigger Article 50 of the treaty which allows them to start the negotiations to leave the EU. Obviously, this will have a massive impact on Ireland in areas such as agrifood. It will also affect British exporters of products like Welsh lamb. Has Enterprise Ireland been looking at the options and possibilities in this regard? Can we develop our potential in markets that Britain might lose when it triggers Article 50 tomorrow? I do not think anybody living in the real world believes a deal can be sorted out in two years. If there is a hard Brexit, it looks like Britain will be subject to WTO rules when it leaves the EU. We all know the rates that will apply in such circumstances. Is Enterprise Ireland specifically targeting the opportunities that might result from this?

I welcome the increase of 6.5% in the funding of InterTradeIreland. Does the Minister think that is enough? I suggest it is probable that this will need to be given a little more consideration. I appreciate that this might not be the appropriate time to raise the matter. I also have a query about the LEOs. Perhaps I misunderstood the Minister when she said that even though they created 4,100 jobs in 2016, their target for 2017 is just 3,000. What is the reason for this reduction? Perhaps it is just an estimate.