Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 10 May 2018

Working Group of Committee Chairmen

Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach

10:30 am

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a means for preparing for Brexit, there is a range of information and support available.

Enterprise Ireland is running a very good campaign to encourage small and medium-sized businesses, SMEs, to participate in the Brexit readiness check. There are a lot of supports available, including access to low-cost finance for small businesses. When I met businesses representatives some weeks ago, they asked us to stop giving out so much about SMEs not preparing for Brexit. That was something I had not expected them to say. They were not giving out about the committees but about the Government. They asked that we stop telling them to prepare for Brexit. They asked how they could prepare for it when they did not yet really know what it would mean. I have some sympathy for them because it is very hard to prepare until we know the shape Brexit will take and what the new trading relationship will be. If a small business trades with the United Kingdom, it can map out on paper some contingencies such as looking at other markets, but it is very hard to prepare for a new set of rules until one knows what they will be. That is why it is so important first to agree the terms of the transition agreement in order that business will know that there will be no changes until 1 January 2021. We are working hard to try to develop a new relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union that will involve as few changes as possible, in which case businesses will not need to do much at all by way of preparation. I have, however, a lot of sympathy for SMEs because we are always telling them to "get prepared". They ask for what exactly they are to prepare and how can they prepare until they see what the new rules will be.

I did not know that Port of Waterford traffic only moves to and from continental Europe. I have been to the port and Belview on a few occasions, with reference to my previous role in the area of transport. There is, potentially, an opportunity for them because, as Dublin and Cork ports become increasingly congested, smaller ports will really benefit.

I have spoken previously about the pitches at Na Fianna GAA Club. Deputies are aware that there is a process surrounding a rail order and that lot of changes can happen between the publication of a preferred route and the issuing of a rail order. I strongly encourage Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority to find an alternative. I am aware that the metro cannot be built without digging tunnels and knocking down some buildings, but they should find an alternative to the current proposal. Alternatives have been proposed.

I do not want to comment specifically on Irish Life as I do not know enough about the particular pension fund. I know what I have read in the newspapers, but that is different from having a comprehensive knowledge of it. The protection is the trustees. Generally, they are a combination of people who represent the employer and the employees and also include professional trustees. Any decision will have to involve them, but I take the point that in anticipation of legislation-----

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.