Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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807. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policies she and the agencies within her remit are pursuing to protect the interests of businesses exporting to the United Kingdom, in particular in the food sector, given the result of the British referendum to exit the European Union and the depreciation of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21300/16]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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808. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her proposals to assist small and medium enterprises that are totally or heavily dependent on the Northern Irish and British market for exports, given the weakening of the value of sterling; if she is aware that such companies are experiencing difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21339/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 807 and 808 together.

Volatility in exchange rates always presents challenges and the trade performance of a small open economy such as Ireland will always be conditional on the ebb and flow of global markets. The present exchange rate volatility highlights the importance of focusing on a wide spectrum of competitiveness policies, in particular policies to enhance competition and productivity. A competitive, sustainable, cost base can help to create a virtuous circle between inflation, wage expectations and productivity and can provide a buffer against such exchange rate fluctuations and other uncontrollable, external factors.

On 24 June 2016 the Government published a contingency plan identifying key policy issues to be managed by Government Departments arising from the referendum vote in the UK to leave the EU. Details of this framework plan are available on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach.

In relation to my own Department and its Agencies, we are very focused on our exporters. Enterprise Ireland plays a key role as the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. It works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. The Local Enterprise Offices are the first stop shop for anyone seeking to start or grow a business in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland's (EI’s) UK team, based in London, will provide support to clients to help identify key business opportunities in the short and medium terms. It will advise on responding to the implications of Brexit such as improving competitiveness and reducing supply chain costs. EI will intensify its International Trade and 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 and 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 advisers.

EI will run an information campaign to include 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: www.enterprise-ireland.com/brexit.

IDA Ireland is constantly engaged with clients across its entire portfolio and in the months leading up to the UK referendum it engaged with clients and prospective clients in relation to the potential impact of a vote in the UK referendum to leave the EU. IDA Ireland has in place a team involved in strategic scenario planning which ensures that the Agency’s strategy is fit for purpose. IDA Project Managers are currently in contact with clients and prospective clients across the globe and continue to market a competitive value proposition to attract mobile foreign investment from global locations including the UK.

In the longer term, Enterprise 2025 highlights the importance of continuing to diversifying our export markets and the products which we export. We will continue to implement Enterprise 2025 through the Annual Action Plan for Jobs and work across government to progress any additional specific measures necessary to sustaining and growing jobs in the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs.