Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What I take from that answer is that the preparations the Minister has made is that he will allow greater flexibility to exist in respect of funds. While I understand we need flexibility, and we will be looking for flexibility in funding arrangements in any case, we really need a plan to seek additional funds particularly from Europe because this is a European problem, not just an Irish problem, although Ireland will meet the biggest impact of it. We need to see from where we can get additional resources to support the small businesses that will be under threat in the Border corridor and, indeed, across the entire country as a consequence of Brexit. These are businesses in transport, agrifood and a whole range of sectors. I spoke to a man last week who is importing products. He feels he will face serious problems, particularly with VAT, because, if Britain is out of the European Union, he will have to pay the VAT when he imports goods, rather than when he sells them. That will have a huge impact on him and his business and he is not even prepared as to how to do the paperwork around that, let alone how he will pay for it. He spoke to the bank about it. Will he get the resources he needs? Will he get an extension of the credit he needs to do that? There is no answer there. It is issues like that on which the Government needs to come in and show that it has the resources in place to protect these small businesses.

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