Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is not so much about legislation as about activity that is taking place. Today on Bloomberg's "Brexit Bulletin" Dublin is ranked first in respect of 15 cities analysed for conditions for transfer of jobs. I note the comments from some senior chief executives of very big financial houses saying they are going to move. They are not all saying that they are going to come to Dublin but I can confirm that we have met with a number of people over the last three months who are examining Dublin in competition with other countries and other capitals very favourably.

The Central Bank has had quite extensive engagement with banking and financial houses which wish to relocate different sectors of their businesses from London to other locations. Ireland is being considered very favourably in that regard. The Central Bank is the regulator and, as the Deputy knows, the European Central Bank also provides personnel in terms of regulations and licences that might be involved. There is much activity, some of which I cannot discuss publicly. I expect that favourable decisions will be made for us.

Businesses want to locate in a country which is in the Single Market, where the English language is spoken, which has had 40 years or more of engagement with the European Union and which has connectivity between London and Dublin, the second busiest route in the world. Most important is the access to a continuous stream of talent. I will provide the Deputy with further facts at a later stage.

See this speech in context