Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his opening statement. I and my party will do everything we can to help to scrutinise and progress the legislation if necessary. There are only 14 sitting days between now and 29 March, which shows that time is tight. We are somewhat concerned that we still await publication of the detail of the legislation and that it is running down to the wire. In terms of preparedness in other European countries, the Netherlands published legislation in November, France triggered its contingency plan on 17 January, Spain approved its plan on 11 January and Italy announced legislation on 21 December. Draft legislation has been published in Poland and legislation is before the parliaments of Germany and the Czech Republic. We are a little behind the curve. The Oireachtas may require extra sitting days between now and 29 March.

I wish to flag certain specific issues to the Tánaiste. He may not be able to address them today but I wish to make him aware of them. He will be aware of the recent AIB Brexit sentiment survey which revealed that only 8% of SMEs surveyed had a formal Brexit plan in place in quarter 4 of 2018. The Tánaiste will indicate that the Government has been engaging with industry and SMEs on an ongoing basis, but it is very worrying that only 8% of SMEs have plans in place. That is backed up by take-up of the various funds that were put in place. Only 5% of the €300 million set aside for the Brexit loan scheme has been sanctioned to date and the Brexit loan scheme for farmers and fishermen announced in October and to which €25 million was allocated is still not open. I ask the Tánaiste to update us in that regard and provide an overview of contingency planning at that level because some of the figures that are emerging, particularly from the AIB sentiment survey, are quite depressing.

The Tánaiste referred to education and SUSI grants. While the clarity regarding SUSI grants will be welcome, as is the fact that the arrangements will continue, will that be the case for the remainder of current students' courses or will it continue into the foreseeable future? Is there any clarity on the fees to which Irish students who choose to study in the UK will be subject, particularly from the 2021 academic year onward?

The Tánaiste will be familiar with many companies in the medtech sector. Some are based in Cork and others in the mid west, with Galway a particularly popular location. The EU estimates that between 30% and 40% of medical devices in use and demand are approved through UK designated notifying bodies. I have been informed by members of the medtech sector that the UK-based notifying bodies will no longer be recognised by the EU after 29 March and that certified devices will no longer be in conformity with the EU directive. A significant problem may arise in that regard. Is the Tánaiste aware of that potential issue? Is it being worked on? It will have a sharp impact if we the calamitous event we are all trying to avoid comes to pass on 29 March.

A report published today by Reuters, a relatively reputable news agency, quotes sources in Brussels as stating that the Government may get a transition period or some temporary opt outs to avoid putting up a hard Border, and that it will soon be required to come up with a plan to protect the EU Single Market or face checks on Irish goods entering the remainder of the EU bloc. I do not know if the Tánaiste has seen or been made aware of that report. Given the possibility of a no-deal Brexit because of opposition to the backstop in Westminster, has the Government considered or been asked to come up with an alternative to the backstop? Has the Government been asked through the back channels to come up with an alternative to the backstop or has it had any discussions on an alternative plan for the Border?