Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that we are not out of the woods. While the prospect of a no-deal Brexit may have diminished, there can be no room for complacency or assumptions in light of the political chaos and instability in London that we are witnessing. We know that the UK will ultimately leave the EU, but the type of Brexit is still uncertain. It is fair to say that people are growing weary of Brexit. The ongoing uncertainty and the shifting deadlines are having an impact on the environment in which small and medium-sized enterprises and other businesses operate. According to a recent report in The Irish Times, Ms Verona Murphy of the Irish Road Haulage Association believes "State agencies were trying to deflect blame by saying that businesses had not made sufficient preparations" and considers "the State would struggle to process the millions of additional customs declaration forms if it is going to be a hard Brexit". She continued:

They are unable to answer basic questions for us. If Brexit happens on Friday, it is just going to be utter chaos. The least of their worries will be who has signed up for an EORI.

The point I want to reinforce is that preparations seem to be rather patchy. Against this backdrop, and in the hope of trying to allay people's fears and concerns, has the Tánaiste any insight into how the talks between the Labour Party and the Conservatives are progressing, particularly in regard to a customs union, which has such an impact on business?

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