Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I appreciate what the Minister has said, clearly the Government's message is not getting through to those in business to whom we have spoken and who have also appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

PricewaterhouseCoopers recently suggested that with less than a year to go a hard Brexit is the most likely outcome. I appreciate that a hard Brexit is just a possibility at this stage, but citizens and businesses deserve to know the range of possibilities they may encounter. If the past behaviour of the British Government is anything to go by, things will only get worse between now and March 2019. Does the Minister have an explanation for why the uptake of the Government's supports for business has been less than desirable? Are the criteria too strict or the administration burden too great especially for small businesses?

Has the Department secured any commitment from the European Union on funding or assistance for a hard Brexit and if so what is the amount of that funding?

Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland will no doubt be inundated with calls and queries in the lead up to next March and beyond. What plans does the Department have to increase staff numbers and resources even temporarily if such a possibility of a hard Brexit occurs?

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