Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to express my sympathy on behalf of the Government to the family of the late Captain Mark Duffy, whose funeral is today and in whose memory the flag is flying at half mast. We also hope the other two families who are anxiously waiting will not have to wait long.

I thank Deputy Moynihan for his question. I can assure him the Government has entered into very long preparation for the event that occurred yesterday. This is certainly not of our choosing, I agree with him on that front, but we have done very deep sectoral SWOT analyses and looked at the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The Deputy is right that there are threats to some sectors and opportunities in others. We have revised our trade strategy and job strategy and we have strengthened all of the agencies so they will be in a position to assist companies to diversify, train, adopt lean mechanisms, be more competitive in their markets and trade online. Many changes are being supported by our agencies to ensure companies are in a position to compete.

We have set out our priorities very clearly. Not only that, but we have a very clear track record. The Deputy will recall that, in the last six years, when economic trading conditions in Europe were the most difficult for decades, this Government adopted policies which helped grow employment by 2% per annum. We have 200,000 extra people back at work. That has been an export-led recovery based on stronger competitiveness and more diversification of our markets. We are in a strong position to deal with this decision by the United Kingdom.

We have secured support not just in Theresa May's letter, where very clearly one can see the Government's priorities reflected, but in that Michel Barnier has also indicated frequently his consciousness of Irish concerns. Those concerns have been very clearly set out by Government. We are preparing for the twists and turns of a very difficult negotiation. This is not a straightforward single line of travel. It will be very difficult and there will be issues that we will have to reflect on as they come. However, we have put ourselves in a very strong position, both with regard to our influence with key European partners among the 27, with Michel Barnier and the negotiating team and, indeed, with the British. We are prepared to participate to the full in these discussions and negotiations, which will have a profound impact on our country but which will also offer opportunities as well and we are equally prepared to seize those opportunities.

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