Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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6. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the call by organisations (details supplied) for the establishment of a Brexit adjustment fund for businesses adversely affected by the United Kingdom leaving the customs union; the measures her Department proposes to meet this demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38032/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is conscious of the need to consider the types of supports that Irish businesses may require including that to which the Deputy refers, to address challenges arising as a result of the Brexit Referendum, which is likely to represent a structural shift in the UK trading relations.  Short, medium and long term responses from market diversification through to price repositioning will be needed.

On foot of extensive engagement with industry, my Department is working with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland and the SBCI to develop appropriate, tailored and targeted responses. This work, along with market developments as a result of Brexit, and ongoing engagement with the business community, will inform further discussions with the Commission and the development of any further initiatives to business.

A lot can be done within the existing EU State Aid Framework. We are confident that the measures currently in development will be State Aid compliant, and we are taking steps to ensure that we can use all options available under the State aid framework to provide support to companies impacted by Brexit.

Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing rules, we will move quickly to advance this with the EU Commission.