Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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661. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the findings of a risk assessment report in 2013 regarding contingency plans considered in the event of Brexit and whether Enterprise Ireland had sufficient resources in place, including staff allocations, to deal with such an outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19300/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this month Enterprise Ireland reported that its client companies saw an increase of 10% in exports in 2015 amounting to an all-time high of €20.6bn. The export figure is now almost double what it was 10 years ago (€10.73bn in 2005).

Exports to the UK increased by 12% last year to reach €7.5bn. Significantly however, in the context of Brexit, UK exports, as a share of total exports, have reduced from 45% to 37% over the period 2005 to 2015 as our clients have diversified their export base. High Growth Markets (e.g. China, Brazil, etc.) have continued to increase in importance over the past 10 years and at €2.5bn they now account for 12% of total exports compared to 7% in 2005.

Despite the continued diversification of the Enterprise Ireland client export base, the UK’s vote to leave the EU will present significant new challenges for Irish companies exporting to the UK. In response, Enterprise Ireland has begun its plans to support clients exporting to the UK, including:

1. Information and Guidance:

Enterprise Ireland will run an information campaign including: practical guides, online information and webinars, an updated UK market access guide and regional seminars in Ireland and the UK. These will provide guidance on issues including: the implications of trading with the UK, improving competitiveness, reducing supply chain costs, accessing funding, finance, foreign exchange, employment regulations and legal issues.

There is also a dedicated email address: brexithelp@enterprise-ireland.com; an Enterprise Ireland helpline: 01-7272727 and dedicated webpage: .

2. UK Market Support:

Enterprise Ireland's UK team, based in London, will provide support to clients to help identify key business opportunities in the short and medium terms. They will also provide advice and support on responding to the implications of Brexit such as improving competitiveness and reducing supply chain costs.

3. Competitiveness and Market Development supports:

Enterprise Ireland will intensify its work with clients to improve their competitiveness in the market through its management capability and development programmes.

4. Market Diversification Support:

Enterprise Ireland will intensify its strategy of supporting clients to diversify into new markets. As part of this strategy, Enterprise Ireland will provide increased internationalisation supports to assist client companies to evaluate new market opportunities. It will also intensify its International Trade & Investment events schedule for the rest of 2016 to include trade missions and events to Northern Europe, USA, China, India and other high growth markets. Enterprise Ireland will also host an International Markets week in the first week of October in Ireland, to provide Irish exporters with access to its overseas market advisors.

5. International Sector Clustering Strategy:

Enterprise Ireland will expand its focus on promoting Irish sectoral cluster capabilities in key sectors to international buyers in growth markets including Northern Europe, USA and Asia Pacific.

I am satisfied that Enterprise Ireland is already intensively engaged with its clients on the implications of Brexit. As the situation evolves and specific challenges emerge, I will keep under review the resources required to address them.