Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have identified a number of categories of businesses that are particularly exposed to Brexit-related difficulties, including businesses in the agrifood sector, in the Border region and engaged in export and import to, from and through the UK. The Getting Ireland Brexit Ready public information campaign included workshop events throughout the country aimed primarily at businesses and people most affected by Brexit. Enterprise Ireland has also launched a eurozone strategy to help SMEs broaden their export footprint beyond the UK. We continue to go on trade missions to the Far East and across the globe. We bring companies with us so that they can find and diversify into new markets on a global basis. Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs help businesses look at customs for the first time, to understand the key customs concepts, documentation and processes. InterTradeIreland works with the SMEs and an all-island basis.

The Deputy mentioned companies in Belfast. I recently visited companies there through the Confederation of British Industry, CBI, and it is clear they are very concerned about Brexit. I took the opportunity in budget 2019 to increase the funding to InterTradeIreland by a further €1 million, which represented a 17% increase in its budget. InterTradeIreland does not just help companies south of the Border but it helps companies north of the Border as well and it was very much welcomed by it. It has been able to move on to issue implementation vouchers of up to £5,000.

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