Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Finance estimates that a disorderly exit of the UK from the EU will reduce Irish GDP and economic output by more than 4% over five years, and that unemployment would increase by 2%, which equates to 55,000 people losing their jobs. This uncertainty is worrying and, as we all know, it is out of our hands because we are dependent on what happens across the water. Is the Minister satisfied that her Department has planned for all possible contingencies to protect against a hard Brexit that we hope will not happen? She has stated that Brexit is one of her top priorities, which is important for business, enterprise and innovation.

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