Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue. I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for small business in 2016. My responsibilities have increased significantly since then.

My Department and the agencies have developed a suite of advisory and financial Brexit supports for businesses. We are very conscious of the importance of small businesses. I will address some of the questions raised by the Deputy in my follow-up reply. For now, I will focus on Brexit. Exposure to the UK is likely to mean customs procedures, duties and consequent delays in moving and receiving goods, which is critical for SMEs. This is likely to impact business cashflow. As stated by the Deputy for some businesses, the impact of currency fluctuation is already being felt. To alleviate some of the cashflow impacts, the Government is introducing a number of measures, including a system of postponed accounting for all traders for a period after Brexit in order that businesses will not have to pay VAT at the point of import of their goods from the UK.

The €300 million Brexit loan scheme provides working capital funding to businesses to innovate, change or adapt in response to Brexit-related challenges. Once sanctioned, these loans can be drawn down if and when needed giving businesses peace of mind to focus on navigating their business through Brexit. Beyond this, my Department and the agencies are fully engaged in preparing for Brexit and have participated in the Government of Ireland series of Getting Ireland Brexit Ready events throughout the country. As part of awareness-raising activities, Enterprise Ireland continues to roll out regional Brexit advisory clinics. The 31 local enterprise offices, LEOs, and InterTradeIreland offer a range of Brexit-focused supports to businesses, including those engaged in cross-Border trade with Northern Ireland. The LEOs offer Brexit supports to micro and small businesses through the LEO network nationwide, including tailored mentoring to address Brexit-related business challenges and targeted training on specific Brexit challenges. Additional business advisers are being recruited to the 31 local enterprise offices to work with businesses to develop and implement a Brexit contingency-growth plan which will incorporate job and export market growth. Businesses should contact their nearest local enterprise office, Enterprise Ireland, EI, office or InterTradeIreland, ITI, office where they can find out more detail about a voucher worth €2,250 to help businesses navigate their way through Brexit and which can be used towards professional advice on Brexit issues such as customs, logistics and financial issues such as currency management. Enterprise Ireland and InterTradeIreland also offer vouchers worth up to €5,000 and £5,000, respectively, which will enable companies to implement a change as identified in their Brexit plan. Some Members will have heard from local and national radio about the Enterprise Ireland PrepareforBrexit communications campaign, featuring the Brexit SME Scorecard and the PrepareforBrexit.comwebsite, which offers information on the likely impacts of Brexit on Irish businesses and allows businesses to self-assess their Brexit exposure.

Turning now to some of the questions raised by the Deputy, the InterTradeIreland Brexit advisory service provides advice to SMEs on dealing with changes in cross-Border trading relationships. As part of the service, InterTradeIreland has organised a series of awareness events focused on improving knowledge of customs processes and procedures and identifying actions that can be taken in areas such as logistics and supply chain management. Businesses can also avail of customs training through Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and the local enterprise offices where they can learn about customs concepts and procedures that will prepare them for trading with and through the UK post Brexit.

As the Deputy rightly said, the retail sector is undergoing an exciting but also challenging transformation as the digital economy provides a different retail experience for consumers across Ireland and the EU. As chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, launched the online retail scheme in September 2018, which arises out of the forum working group on the issue of the digital economy. My Department has worked closely with the forum over the past two years to develop this scheme in line with the needs of the sector. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the work being done by the forum.

I will respond to the remainder of the Deputy's questions in my follow-up reply.

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