John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Donnelly's question is very interesting and relevant. As the Minister said, I have addressed two meetings with Enterprise Ireland involving 60 companies and 120 companies, respectively. Many companies are engaging. There are three issues here. Number one is there is no question that we should not underestimate companies that feel they are prepared for Brexit. Neither the Government nor Enterprise Ireland is in a position to tell them they are not prepared. We can offer all the assistance through finance and advice, which is done. Any time a meeting has been held, businesses have engaged with many of us. A total of 100 companies attended one meeting while 60 attended another. I think 120 attended another meeting. Admittedly, the take-up is not as good as we expected it to be but I do not think it is because of a lack of information from the Government. I do not think a month goes by without the Government and all agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and IDA Ireland, being proactive in explaining the effect Brexit can have, particularly on SMEs. As I said earlier, the take up of the consultation fund of €5,000 was not significant but I was at a number of meetings and the necessity of taking up that fund was expertly explained. The take-up still is not what we would expect and we cannot really explain why this is the case. It is correct to state we should not underestimate some companies that are fine and will deal with and work through Brexit. The Minister is right - I would be blunt and say if she was not- in that I do not know what other information we can give to companies regarding Brexit. There are a number of funding schemes and websites directed towards Brexit. The Deputy is right about Enterprise Ireland. It is a fabulous organisation. I work with it right across Europe and the world. It is absolutely spot on. In respect of diversification, it is not all about the UK. Under Horizon 2020, our biggest collaborator is Germany at 12.5%. Our collaboration with Germany is fantastic. There is a recognition on the part of Germany about how good we are at downloading the funding, although I know that is a different area. I see the point the Deputy is making. All of us, including the Opposition, must come up with other ideas. As to whether we are being as informative as we should, I believe we are if one looks at what all the Ministers are saying and at the meetings that are well attended by businesses. It is not that one goes to a meeting and five or six businesses turn up. They do not. Over 100, 120, 60 or 80 businesses will turn up. It not a question of financial experts, experts on the economy, experts on Brexit and experts on collaboration with companies not being there because they are all there. It is a void as to why some companies are not taking up the funding but I do not know what else the Government could do. I am being honest about that.