Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At recently as this morning, we had a Brexit stakeholder meeting for an hour and a half or so at which all these interests were represented. We are trying to prepare small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger businesses throughout the country for the potential impact of Brexit. All the State agencies are geared up to do that. People will see us do it in a far more visible way in the coming months with significant seminars and roadshows. The idea is to bring companies in, essentially to tutor them and talk to them about the potential impact of Brexit. The State has a responsibility to do that.

Many of the things Deputy Donnelly has talked about are happening. We are making funding available, looking at the options for state-aid rules and reaching out through the State agencies to many of the companies concerned. I accept, however, that more work remains to be done in this area and that we need to intensify those efforts as Brexit gets closer. That will happen.

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