Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she and her Department have plans to offset the potential impact of Brexit; if she expects to concentrate on the Single Market, the freedom of movement or other issues in this context; her views on the importance of the need for Ireland to retain access to this market and the EU as an entity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39074/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Ireland remains a strong and committed member of the EU and in this context fully intend to continue to retain full access to the Single Market, which is of enormous benefit to Irish businesses and consumers. It should be remembered that this will continue to give Ireland access to a market of 450 million people, even after the UK’s departure.

While Government is working to ensure a close future relationship between the UK and the EU, our position is that access to the Single Market must be on the basis of acceptance of all four freedoms – free movement of goods, services, capital and people. It is clear that everyone should play by the same rules.

Ireland has consistently advocated greater progress being made in further strengthening the Single Market. Indeed, as recently as the week before last, I led an initiative where my Ministerial counterparts from nine other Member States and I signed a joint letter to President Juncker calling on the European Commission to be ambitious in advancing the Single Market for services. This demonstrates the positive influence that Ireland can bring to shaping the future success of the Single Market, through building alliances with a wide range of Member States across the Union, and which can ultimately enhance the benefits accruing to Irish businesses and consumers. Deepening the Single Market and negotiating improved access to third country markets under EU FTA's are key elements in offsetting the adverse impacts of Brexit.