Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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599. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she continues to engage with investment and job creation interests in Northern Ireland with a view to maintaining the best possible relationship of a mutually beneficial nature with Northern Ireland and the EU in the aftermath of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23289/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to maintaining an excellent and close relationship with the Northern Ireland authorities as we both work to address the challenges associated with Brexit.

While there is no Executive in place at present, and therefore no equivalent Northern Ireland Minister in office, there is ongoing cooperation and engagement at official level. InterTrade Ireland, which is jointly funded, is also playing a particularly important role in assisting businesses prepare for the commercial implications of Brexit. I have made additional funding available to the Body to support its Brexit-related initiatives and we will continue to support the valuable work it undertakes.

Separately, it is very welcome that arrangements have been made to ensure that the new round of the EU's INTERREG Programme, due to run to 2022, and co-funded by my Department, will run its course. The Programme has long provided valuable funding and its continuation is good for both enterprise and cross-border cooperation.