Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her contingency plans to assist small and medium enterprises operating both sides of the border in view of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14424/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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At this stage it is not possible to predict with certainty the extent of Brexit for SMEs trading across the border. Much will depend on the nature of the deal that will be negotiated between the UK and the EU. This Government will seek, during that process, to highlight our unique economic ties with Northern Ireland. 

The Government is very conscious of the specific challenges facing businesses in the border region who export to Northern Ireland. To help address this issue it has provided additional resources to InterTrade Ireland, the Cross Border Body which has specific responsibility for developing Cross Border Trade, in order to enable that Body to provide additional services and support to such companies. Inter Trade Ireland has commissioned a study by the ESRI which will improve our understanding of the impact of different trade and tariff regimes which might be imposed following Brexit. This study will also provide useful data on the extent and concentration of cross border trade, including information on this trade by product and firm type as well as barriers to trade. Inter Trade Ireland, in their day to day operations are very successful in fostering cross border trade. For  example  in 2016, the Body had a job creation impact of 2,339, it helped 79 companies to innovate for the first time and helped 88 companies to export for the first time.

Both Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have initiated a series of actions to assist their client companies.

I am actively engaged with our Agencies to ensure that Irish jobs are maintained and created in the context of the challenges and opportunities which Brexit presents for us. I chair a Brexit Coordination Group, which includes the senior management of my Department and the CEOs of relevant agencies. I also recently organised an engagement event in Carrick on Shannon, to hear the views of stakeholders, both directly and through representative bodies.