Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, on what the countertariff measures might look like, it is open to consultation until 10 June. The Government will make its views known. It is also open to every sector and person to make a submission, and we are encouraging people to do that. What we saw the last time we engaged on this was that we actually made some progress in removing some items from the list of retaliatory measures that were of particular concern to our economy, farmers and drinks industry.

Pharma is an area of major concern. I met with all the pharma companies recently through the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association. Similarly, I met the medtech and aircraft leasing industries recently. At our Government trade forum, we are diving into different sectors of the economy at each meeting as well. The Deputy is right, though, as regards controlling what we can control.

On market diversification, the Minister, Deputy Burke, and I will bring forward a new plan on that issue within the next month but I got Government approval to progress the ratification of CETA, the trade agreement with Canada, this week as an example of market diversification. In July, the Minister, Deputy Burke, will also bring forward a competitiveness plan as to how we support small and medium enterprises.

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