Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply and it is a fairly stark scenario that is set out in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit materialising, which none of us want to see. We do need, however, to be aware of what the likely consequences are. When the Minister states the rate of employment would be 2% below what it otherwise would be, with the rate of unemployment being 2% higher, I understand we are talking about figures in the region of 40,000 jobs. This is consistent with what the Department set out at the beginning of last year, that is, there would be 40,000 fewer people employed. The Minister might confirm if that is the Department's current estimate, if that remains the position and that economic output would be approximately 4% less over a ten-year period.

Can the Minister clarify, in respect of his comment about customs and other non-tariff barriers, what we are talking about with regard to this issue and what work has been done by the Department and by the Revenue Commissioners to prepare for that scenario which none of us want to see?

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