Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question is whether we are ready. I assure the Deputy we are doing everything to try to be ready to protect and work with businesses by putting supports in place to assist them through their own processes and by making sure we have the right infrastructure at our ports and airports and that the right officials are in place, as well as the legislation.

We also are working with our colleagues within the European Commission because while there is work we can do here, there is a European-wide preparedness that needs to happen, particularly around the land bridge. In that regard, we have presented a paper in France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium, as well as to our German colleagues.

A lot of work is ongoing. Until we know exactly what the scenario looks like from the end of the year and how those measures need to be implemented, we will not know fully how to proceed. Our focus is to try and get the best possible outcome and the best trade deal possible in order that we can negate any negative outcomes.

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