Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure how the review of Brexit business supports ties into the actions of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the Dáil. There are a couple of things in amendments Nos. 15 and 28 which are slightly ideological in nature, which was reflected in the tone of Senator Conway-Walsh, but I appreciate where she is coming from and that we ultimately have different approaches to ideology. That is not a bad thing and not a point of disagreement, just one of fact. Subsection (2) of amendment No. 15 refers to "examining why there has been such a low uptake of these Brexit business supports". That is a little unfair and plays down the remarkable work that has been done by State agencies as opposed to the Government, especially Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Tourism Ireland and many others, particularly those that have reported the substantial take-up and engagement, especially since December, as we have lurched ever closer to Brexit day.To glibly include that undoes the remarkable work that is being done by our civil servants and State agencies, including the IDA, which I should have mentioned. In respect of amendment No. 28, which provides for a report to the Oireachtas within one month, I think it is very premature. God forbid but if we enter into a crash-out scenario, it will not help to have such a strict timeline for those discussions. They are not easy discussions. In most of the reports on Brexit that Sinn Féin has published heretofore, there have been a couple of very consistent trends. While I commend their consistency, I disagree with them. I refer first and foremost to flexibility on state aid, the call for a Border poll, which is not being discussed in this section, and many others. When we look at EU state aid and financial flexibility within the European Union, timing is everything. Calling for this from the outset, 18 months ago, undermines whatever potential discussions may lay ahead. I refer to potential discussions because I still very much hope that we never have to have them. As with everything in respect of this legislation, I hope we pass it but I truly hope it is never enacted.