Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In advance of the referendum, my Department conducted a contingency risk assessment of the potential impacts of Brexit across policy areas of the Department. We are continuing to refine our analysis after the referendum and we have been working with the enterprise agencies and across government to put in place additional resources and actions to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities. I have also initiated new structures, consultation fora and research to inform our decision-making.

Budget 2017 and the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 include important initiatives to enhance the capacity of the enterprise agencies to assist companies in the context of Brexit.

In all my engagements with EU Commissioners and Ministers from other member states since the UK decision, Brexit has been a central part of the discussions. At each meeting, I have stressed both the immediate and potential impact of Brexit on the most exposed sectors of the Irish economy and the need to consider mitigating actions. Officials of my Department have also had discussions with senior officials from the Directorate-General for Competition and other relevant directorates-general to sensitise them to the potential difficulties for Irish businesses arising from the Brexit referendum result. These discussions are ongoing and will continue to address all relevant issues and challenges and will explore all possible options.

While I have attended three out of three meetings of the EU Competitiveness Council, the issue of revisions of state aid rules on foot of Brexit has not formed part of the Council's formal agenda. Of course, as the Deputy will appreciate, the UK continues to participate fully at the Council, and it is more appropriate, therefore, for our interests to be pursued bilaterally with the Commission and other member states.

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