Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. While Covid might have focused the attention of many minds and businesses in recent months, as a Department and a Government, we have been very much focused on Brexit for the last number of years, certainly as we get closer to it. The Tánaiste and other colleagues have repeatedly tried to drive home the message over the last few months about the importance of focusing on Brexit and keeping an eye to business as well. We want to make sure businesses engage with us, not just those in the Border region that the Deputy represents, but also throughout the country, given Brexit will have an impact on business generally. We know that and we have been working with companies to prepare for that as well.

The Department and its agencies have put in place a wide range of Brexit enterprise measures covering potential Brexit impacts. The Brexit readiness checklist highlights some of the key actions businesses can take to prepare for the changes Brexit will bring from 1 January 2021. The Border enterprise development fund, administered by Enterprise Ireland, provides for collaborative enterprise capability-building projects advancing entrepreneurship, productivity and innovation in the Border region. The fund is part of a €28 million economic stimulus package announced for the six Border counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal earlier this year, with some success in both Cavan and Monaghan, which the Deputy represents.

Enterprise Ireland’s “ready for customs” scheme helps businesses prepare for the challenges of trading with and through the UK. Its online customs insights course and Brexit readiness checker are also available. These stand alongside grants, mentoring and training to enable businesses to examine their exposure and capability to meet the challenges and opportunities that Brexit presents.

The local enterprise offices offer “prepare your business for customs” workshops. They also provide grants to businesses responding to Brexit challenges, including the technical assistance for micro exporters grant of €2,500, and LEAN for micro grants to assist productivity improvements.

InterTradeIreland’s Brexit advisory service offers a focal point for businesses working to navigate changes in cross-Border trading relationships as a result of Brexit. It has run a series of awareness-raising events to help improve knowledge of customs processes and procedures. These events also identify actions that businesses can take in areas like logistics and supply chain management. Its Brexit planning voucher enables eligible businesses to seek professional advice on how best to plan and prepare for Brexit. This helps businesses get advice on specific areas such as tariffs, currency management and regulatory and customs issues.

Also announced was a new €2 billion credit guarantee scheme and further funding to Microfinance Ireland. The future growth loan scheme was expanded at the beginning of the summer to enable long-term investment, including for a post-Brexit, post-Covid-19 environment.

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