Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is adopting a whole of Government approach to the challenges posed by Brexit. Our objectives are to minimise the impact of Brexit on trade and the economy, to protect the Northern Ireland peace process, to maintain the common travel area and to influence the future direction of the European Union.

Brexit issues in my Department are co-ordinated by the Department’s Brexit-EU-North-South unit. This unit supports me in my work on Brexit, leads Brexit work across the Department and represents the Department on the various groups that co-ordinate the Government’s response.

The Government’s response to Brexit involves continuing to manage the economy and the public finances carefully, negotiating effectively as part of the EU 27 while at the same time supporting and ensuring a strong and well-functioning EU, continuing support for business and our economy, and exploring existing and potential EU measures that could assist Ireland in mitigating the effects of Brexit. In supporting these objectives, the best and most immediate policy under my own control is to manage our public finances carefully.

Additionally, in budget 2018 I announced a number of measures which continue the process of making Ireland Brexit-ready. These include a new Brexit loan scheme of up to €300 million for SMEs. I have already seen the advertising for such funds commence. The measures also include the establishment of a rainy day fund, additional capital expenditure of more than €4 billion over the next four years, increased funding in Departments such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and increased allocations in Departments such as the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to allow them to respond to many of the challenges created by Brexit.

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