Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The initial transition period is to the end of 2020 and there will then be an opportunity for an extension of a further two years.

The Deputy referred to customs arrangements. We have worked with businesses and developed a wide range of supports. Enterprise Ireland has developed a customs insights course. It is a 45-minute online course which is available to all businesses and the aim of it is to give companies a good understanding of the key customs concepts and the documentation and processes required to succeed post Brexit. Enterprise Ireland also has its Brexit: Act On Initiative, which helps eligible companies develop an action plan for Brexit, focusing on a range of areas including customs and logistics. The local enterprise offices are currently running one-day customs workshops. A total of 1,863 people have taken up the customs insight course and more than 200 have applied for the clear customs training which is an intensive course. I visited an office in Cavan which was rolling out that course and there were ten people there that day. That course relates to intensive customs clearance that a company should know about if it is doing a lot of business in the UK. That is being rolled out. Businesses are taking up these kinds of supports. There is no doubt about that.

The Deputy mentioned state aid rules. I met Margrethe Vestager, Vice President designate of the EU Commission, earlier this year. She assured me that the Commission stands ready to act and that state aid rules will not act as a barrier to supporting vulnerable but viable firms. She has put a dedicated team in place to support Ireland and my officials work very closely with her officials on what is needed. I am satisfied that she has clearly said to me that the Commission stands ready to act urgently to mitigate the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms. My officials continue to work with the Directorate-General for Competition as part of the technical working group.

Were there any more questions?