Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Basically, there is a real possibility that North-South trade could be seriously damaged as a result of Brexit. The potential for the negative impacts of a hard Brexit on cross-border trade and business development has been highlighted by ESRI, IBEC, ISME, Teagasc, Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others.

I am dissatisfied with the Minister's response. We are heading into a crisis that is characterised by great uncertainty. Such a crisis requires an appropriate response. Thus far, I do not believe the Minister has been forthcoming in this regard.

The Minister has referred to additional moneys but she has not actually told us what money will specifically target Brexit. Brexit is causing the loss of jobs in this country as we speak. People are telling us that they have lost their jobs.

InterTradeIreland is desperately in need of additional funding, but no additional allocation has been made to the company under budget 2017. The Minister should be going to Cabinet and specifically asking for InterTradeIreland to be given additional funding. Before the Minister retorts with the line that the people in the North have not contributed their part, it is a fact that the Government can give whatever it wants to InterTradeIreland as long as it is spent in this State. The Minister might come back to me on that point.

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