Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We will also support the Bill, although I agree with Deputy Munster that it could go much further. It is a relatively straightforward Bill with increases in the funding available under various schemes through the IDA, EI, the microenterprise loan fund, etc. Clearly it is focused on the fallout from Brexit. We still do not know when Brexit will happen and the extent of it. It is important, therefore, that we prepare. All parties in this House have raised this issue on a number of occasions in a variety of contexts, including the recent budget. The Labour Party wanted a larger amount set aside for Brexit contingencies. We still do not know how hard Brexit will be. The deal currently on the table appears to be considerably more impactful than the original Theresa May deal. There is still a lot of fear and trepidation as to what exactly the outcome will be.

I have also raised in the past the fact that many businesses had not taken much action, because they were not sure what to do. I accept that a great number of workshops have been held. Many companies, however, found it difficult to figure out exactly how their own particular enterprise would be affected by Brexit. For that reason, one of the points I have made before in Oral Questions relates to the accessibility of these funds. If companies suddenly find that they are in trouble and that there is a problem with their supply chain, for example, or that they are in a position where they are worried that they will have to lay off workers, etc., or if there is just a difficulty accessing markets, they will need immediate access to funds to prevent them having to either close their enterprise, or reduce employment. I still have an issue with how difficult it is going to be to get this money quickly, when it is required, to prevent sudden closures or job losses.

The funding is available with a sum of €25 million replacing the €15 million available in the microenterprise loan fund, with larger amounts for the IDA, effectively doubling the amount available to the organisation to €14 million, together with other funds, which is all good. Much of this funding is in the form of loans and not grants, which is something that could cause difficulty for some companies, because they would be afraid to take out loans that they might be unable to pay back. This would be a concern for a lot of people.

I also agree with Deputy Munster's comments on generally protecting workers as opposed to protecting companies, where there are issues about having to put workers on short time. There should be some way in which their income could be maintained, as these people will have outgoings, including mortgages, etc. There may be a sudden impact whereby their income may be reduced because their working hours have been reduced. Something needs to be there to ensure that people can maintain a standard of living given their outgoings.

We also have a major difficulty with the fact that the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Doherty, said that the national minimum wage increase will be deferred. I do not know if there will be any change in this regard given that it does not appear that there will be a crash-out Brexit. The minimum wage needs to be increased in accordance with the original proposals, because it needs to increase in line with the cost of living. There is also the issue of the basic social welfare payments not increasing. For people who are working on the minimum wage, their incomes will not increase commensurate with their cost of living. While this is not a matter for the Minister of State, it is a matter for the Government. It is an important issue that needs to be clarified now. I would strongly argue that the minimum wage increase should be applied in accordance with the original timetable.

Firms near the Border will be most affected. Like the Minister of State, I come from much further down the country.

I am not saying it is because of Brexit but we have also seen significant job losses in the past week in the case of Molex in County Clare, as well as job losses in County Cork and a smaller number in Dublin. I am not saying that any of these are particularly attributable to Brexit but there are vulnerable companies all over the country. I know there are concerns, particularly around supply chain issues and how particular forms of regulation are done that will affect the whole country. I accept that in the main, it will be companies near the Border that probably will be drawing down much of this money. However, it is important that this money be accessible in any part of the country that will be affected, because all parts of Ireland are affected by our close relationship with the United Kingdom, be they east-west or North-South.

Regarding infrastructure, I know it is not under the remit of this Department but I wish to raise the issue of our ports and airports. I think there is some delay regarding the ports being ready, which is really important in terms of access, trade and movement of goods. I know the Minister of State is concerned about ensuring that Shannon Airport continues to have a hub providing access to the wider world. Following Brexit, Heathrow will presumably will not be in the EU so we desperately need another European hub for Shannon Airport, which is crucially important for jobs in the mid-west, in the west as a whole and in some ways, in the entire country. It is hugely important for companies, particularly multinational companies, which need to get their executives and various expert people to other parts of their worldwide operations, particularly their parent companies. This connectivity also is hugely important for jobs. Again, I appreciate that it is not a matter for the Department but IDA Ireland, which is under the auspices of the Minister, has a role in that. I make the point that regional and industrial policy must be aligned with the policy of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I have had difficulties with questions to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport concerning getting an acceptance that airline connectivity is not just a matter for airports but affects the success and sustainability of economic development, which is a matter for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

We support the Bill. We recognise that it is quite narrow in focus and that there will be broad issues. The most important point I wanted to make is that these funds must be accessible to companies that suddenly find themselves in trouble. If a company could plan ahead, put in its application, do all the paperwork and make its case with a good amount of time, it probably could access this funding if it needed it under the various agencies but if a company suddenly finds itself in difficulty, it needs to get to those funds. I hope that in his reply, the Minister of State will be able to reassure me that if a company genuinely needs the money to continue with its business to keep its workers properly paid and carry on with the kind of international business it would have done, be that over the Border in Ireland, east-west or in other parts of the world, the process will be relatively straightforward. I am not talking about companies that do not need the money. We welcome this legislation. We will not hold it up because, obviously, it is important that it gets through as quickly as possible.

See this speech in context