Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In terms of Brexit, a new increasingly protectionist United States and the European Commission now retargeting our corporation tax regime, I believe jobs in Ireland are more at risk now than they were due to the banking collapse. That is why the Taoiseach's answer is so concerning. I accept that actions are being taken. I take the Taoiseach at his word when he says Ireland is doing things but the sense from business leaders and from the public is that while actions are being taken, too few actions are being taken. They are being taken too slowly and with too much deference to the European Union.

As an example, we keep hearing from Ministers that Brexit has not happened yet. I heard it said on a radio programme about two nights ago, but Brexit has happened. For the small and medium enterprises, SMEs, that are struggling, and the ones that have been put out of business, it is happening. For the people who are living and working around the Border regions, it is happening. For the Irish ex-pats who are looking at moving jobs back into the EU post-Brexit, it is happening. While I accept absolutely that there are conversations going on, senior Irish executives are saying that while they are being courted by numerous EU nations, they are not hearing anything from Ireland. My sense is that while actions are being taken, they are being taken too slowly and without a clear vision for success. Does the Taoiseach accept that there is an ex-pat community in London that we should be targeting and are not and that more needs to happen very quickly.

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