Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Finance paper did indicate that, and clearly that was not the rate sterling was operating at yesterday. Personnel from the Department of Finance, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland have been in Brussels to make an arrangement for credit at long-term, low interest rates for businesses that will suffer here and €1 million has been ring-fenced for it in yesterday's budget.

Deputy Martin asks what is the Brexit issue. Is it a hard or a soft Border? Is it the situation that the United Kingdom wants access to the Single Market? I understand that today there are comments that it may wish to contribute to join that market. This situation is quite fluid until the Prime Minister moves Article 50. Long before the Brexit vote, we have had a situation where we have been planning for contingencies that may or may not arise. I explained this to Deputy Martin and the other leaders already and will do so again.

We are conscious that currency fluctuations may have a serious impact on businesses here. We have had evidence of it already.

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