Dáil debates

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Covid-19 (Foreign Affairs and Trade): Statements

 

8:15 pm

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

The state aid issue is a probing and good question in terms of how states use new flexibility around state aid. Some countries have far more available resources than others to spend in the absence of strict state aid rules. Therefore, they could potentially create competitive advantage within the Single Market. That is a concern and something we need to watch closely.

I can give Deputy Harkin a quick answer on the passport question. From next week on we should have the online passport application process working as normal and people should be getting passports back within two or three days. If there is an application stuck in the system, it should be released from next week on.

Deputy Harkin asked about no-deal planning. We are of course planning for a worst-case scenario. We will be putting in place a new communications strategy to reach out to businesses as we did before. The truth is that we have to do this in a clever way. This is because many businesses are so caught up with focusing on Covid-19 and post Covid-19 as well as trying to survive and reopen in the coming months that Brexit is not even on their minds. We have to find a way of getting that conversation going again, even though many people do not want to hear it, to ensure that our economy as a whole is as Brexit-ready as it possibly can be for all scenarios, including a no trade deal Brexit. We will be as ready as we can be. That does not mean it is not going to be difficult. It will be very difficult for some sectors. In the agrifood sector alone under WTO rules in excess of €1 billion in tariffs would apply to the beef and dairy trade between these two islands, which is highly significant. We will do everything we can to avoid that eventuality through negotiation.

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