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

Let us be clear on that. We were open to suggestions from all sides.

On preparations for a no-deal Brexit, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, outlined in some detail yesterday after the Cabinet meeting the financial challenges Ireland will face in the context of a no-deal Brexit and the need to support vulnerable sectors with significant financial support. We are in preparation for that. The Department of Finance is working very closely with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, because this is a hugely vulnerable sector. The food and beef industries were mentioned earlier. We have intensified preparations in that area and will need to take account of that in the financial management of the Exchequer this year, but that is in train. It it comes to no deal, I suspect we will have many hours of debate in this House on how it will be managed.

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