Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Have any changes been made or contemplated in the context of the Brexit proposals, particularly since we have had confirmed what many of us have known for a considerable period of time, namely, that the British Government is likely to opt for a hard Brexit? In the context of the City of London and the IFSC, we know that the fact that English is the local language in each location is an enormous attraction to people establishing companies and investments. With a review of the structures between the Department and the financial services industry, we could turn an element of what is likely to be a very difficult and uncertain situation for the Irish economy to our advantage by preparing to attract companies that want to locate to a location within the EU but which favour an English-speaking location. Ireland is extraordinarily well placed to provide that.

See this speech in context