Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether there are sufficient supports in place to safeguard Irish jobs and exports following the recent Brexit referendum; the actions being taken to increase Irish business competitiveness with the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33222/16]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Minister believe sufficient supports are in place to safeguard Irish jobs and exports following the result of the recent Brexit referendum, about which we know all too well in this House and beyond? What actions are being taken to increase the competitiveness of Irish business in the UK arising from the referendum?

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply engaged with the enterprise agencies - Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland - to ensure sufficient supports are in place to safeguard Irish jobs and exports following the Brexit referendum. I am in ongoing communication with these agencies through my chairing of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation's Brexit co-ordination group, which includes the chief executives of the agencies and senior officials in the Department. I have met representatives of companies and other stakeholders from throughout the country to help to inform our response.

In particular, Enterprise Ireland is working with its 1,500 clients that export to the UK to examine the individual challenges faced by companies in every county in Ireland. It is also working on a sectoral level. Enterprise Ireland is working to assist companies to maintain and increase their UK exports and to extend their international reach by reorienting towards North America, Canada, Asia and the Middle East. Enterprise Ireland is particularly working with the companies that are most exposed to the UK in areas like engineering, food, construction and timber. Enterprise Ireland is working to support companies in enhancing their competitiveness in order that Irish exports and jobs can be protected and can grow. Enterprise Ireland is assisting its clients to improve their processes, drive efficiencies and cost reductions and undertake research and development and innovation with a view to improving existing products and processes or developing new ones.

My Department's 2017 budget contains many measures to help Irish businesses to become more competitive and cope with the impact of Brexit. It includes an extra €52 million in capital funding to support the enterprise sector. Additional current moneys have also been secured to provide up to 50 extra staff for my Department and its enterprise agencies.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I attended yesterday's all-Ireland civic dialogue at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, at which many speakers echoed the sentiment that Brexit is one of the biggest threats to Irish exports and jobs since the foundation of the State. We have seen a significant weakening of sterling since the Brexit referendum. We need to do whatever we can to lessen the impact of Brexit on Irish business and to boost our competitiveness. We were told the budget would contain a significant Brexit package, but that did not happen. I will explain why.

As I have said on a number of occasions, our capital gains tax relief rate is simply not up to standard. The Irish Exporters Association has suggested that the current rate does not bring us onto the racetrack. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said the recent changes will do little to stem the flow of start-up businesses and companies moving to the UK from Ireland.

The Minister has indicated that on the spending side, €3 million has been allocated for additional staff. It is clear from what was said yesterday at the forum in Kilmainham and what we have been told at the hearings being conducted by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that there is agreement on the need to promote market diversification. Why was an expert fund not put in place in the budget to support companies in maintaining the UK export business and diversifying into new markets? I have been told by people involved in business that no fund is available to help them to achieve diversification, which is the word on everybody's lips. Will the Minister outline the total number of new staff who will be employed in the agencies in 2017 as a result of Brexit?

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The €3 million mentioned by the Deputy will be used by the enterprise agencies to employ approximately 50 people. It is not the case that this is the only money we have secured. As I said in my answer, we got an extra 10% in the budget. That money will be of assistance in the context of Brexit. I am fully aware of the challenges for the Irish small and medium-sized enterprise sector in regard to the euro-sterling currency fluctuations. As Minister, I have responsibility for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the country. That is why I am making sure I am armed with the detail of how Brexit will affect each sector and each type of company, including small and medium-sized enterprises, microenterprises and large companies, before I finalise my proposals or make any announcements about specific funds or other measures.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to tie the Minister down on what she has said about what she intends to do before she makes any specific announcements on funding. I asked specifically about the establishment of an exporters' fund. Will the Minister give us some detail about what will be done to help exporters? I emphasise that Irish competitiveness is under huge pressure. I am sure the Minister will mention some positive markers on competitiveness. I remind the House that our position in the World Bank's competitiveness ranking has dropped. We are now in 18th place out of 189 economies, having been much higher at one point. As I said when I spoke on the Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016, the Taoiseach wanted Ireland to be the best small country in the world in which to do business by 2016. It is clear that we are missing that target. There is silence on competitiveness. Will the Minister outline what exactly she will do to create a fund? How much will be provided in that fund? When will we see it? Where and when can companies make applications under such a fund?

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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When I was in the UK yesterday, I met a number of people who are negotiating the Brexit deal for the UK. I wish to tell the Deputy that they do not know what they are doing and they do not know when they will be invoking Article 50. That is the first thing. It would be very irresponsible of me to give the Deputy chapter and verse about some fund today when it might be out of date tomorrow. However, I assure him that my Department is scoping out various possible responses to the short-term currency challenge and I expect to be in a position to announce more detail to help companies based on their actual needs. However, any new proposals will be based on evidence.

I recently met representatives of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association, the Small Firms Association, the Irish Exporters Association and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation to scope out the issues they believe their companies are facing. They have agreed to help the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to get a clear picture of the various things the companies are asking for. Some companies are asking for low-cost loans and others are looking for export guarantees. We will have to scope out exactly what they want and make sure we provide a proper, tailor-made fund that will respond to the needs of exporters.