Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the point made by Senator Richmond. The amendment could lose sight of the work that has been done on preparedness for Brexit and the most difficult scenario. While always hoping for the best, all our officials and our Government have been preparing for the worst at all stages. In the context of discussing business preparedness, I pay tribute to my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, who has spearheaded preparedness in this area and with her information sessions all over the country to make people Brexit-ready. They have been attended by some 2,500 people. I was at one of them and it was very informative and did a very good job. Enterprise Ireland is to be commended on its input, as are the local enterprise offices. There was particular awareness on the part of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, which was reflected in the organised events, of how precarious things were on the Border and in the Border region, of the degree to which everything was particularly difficult there and that there was a particular need for support. All of this was supported by a large injection of at least €78 million in budget 2019. There has been a real effort across Departments and a very specific effort in the business sphere. I commend the agencies, Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys.