Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy makes a strong case on the importance of cross-Border trade and companies which operate North and South. Ensuring this trade continues is an absolute priority. I agree with Deputy on the importance of having an executive in place in order that the needs of the North, including the points made by the Deputy, can be articulated at an international level. Brexit is the most significant challenge to face businesses, North and South, for decades.

I take the Deputy's point on the importance of providing specific supports for companies that trade North and South. The most important issue is that they are allowed and able to continue to trade without a border. Ensuring normal trade can continue is a priority for us in the negotiations on Brexit. I hope sufficient progress will be made in the next few weeks to allow the negotiations on Brexit to move on to the very important trade and business issues that are preoccupying companies. The great uncertainty surrounding Brexit makes it difficult for businesses to know what they should do at this point. However, the message remains that they must innovate, diversify, examine the specific impact Brexit will have on their business, make preparation plans and engage with the agencies whose role is to help them.

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