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

I attended yesterday's all-Ireland civic dialogue at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, at which many speakers echoed the sentiment that Brexit is one of the biggest threats to Irish exports and jobs since the foundation of the State. We have seen a significant weakening of sterling since the Brexit referendum. We need to do whatever we can to lessen the impact of Brexit on Irish business and to boost our competitiveness. We were told the budget would contain a significant Brexit package, but that did not happen. I will explain why.

As I have said on a number of occasions, our capital gains tax relief rate is simply not up to standard. The Irish Exporters Association has suggested that the current rate does not bring us onto the racetrack. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said the recent changes will do little to stem the flow of start-up businesses and companies moving to the UK from Ireland.

The Minister has indicated that on the spending side, €3 million has been allocated for additional staff. It is clear from what was said yesterday at the forum in Kilmainham and what we have been told at the hearings being conducted by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that there is agreement on the need to promote market diversification. Why was an expert fund not put in place in the budget to support companies in maintaining the UK export business and diversifying into new markets? I have been told by people involved in business that no fund is available to help them to achieve diversification, which is the word on everybody's lips. Will the Minister outline the total number of new staff who will be employed in the agencies in 2017 as a result of Brexit?

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