Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am more than happy to share the document with the Government and discuss any matter that is not clear enough for the parties. I will not accept sweeping statements without substance.

Sinn Féin's alternative budget has taken account of the impact that Brexit is likely to have on the Irish economy.We have provided €20 million for North-South projects in order to offset the potential loss of €2.7 billion to GDP if Brexit goes ahead. The Government is lagging behind. I attended a briefing today by IBEC which warned that the indigenous export sector, which employs more than 140,000, is concerned that there will not be unfettered access to the British market. It has called for the upcoming budget to be Brexit-proofed. Indigenous firms have been responsible for up to 75% of new jobs in this recovery - if Senator Buttimer stopped talking he might learn a thing or two - but these are all at risk if there is no coherent strategy or the political will to match it. The budget next week will be a good starting point for the Government to show this country and others in the EU that we are beginning to prepare and it would instil confidence, so I ask the Minister to look at some of the alternatives. Some years ago, when people queried economic policies in this country, they were told by the leader at the time that they should go away and commit suicide. In the interest of new politics, we need to look at the alternatives in order to protect this country from the huge avalanche of threats coming down the line.