Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she and her Department have identified issues arising in the post-Brexit era to which remedial action at this stage can now be identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6351/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The UK’s decision to leave the EU will have a profound effect on Ireland – their stated intention to leave the Single Market and the Customs Union undoubtedly poses a range of challenges for all firms, both those that are internationally trading, and those focused on the domestic market. The challenges will impact upon firms across a range of time horizons – from the immediate to the long-term.

Work is underway across government to identify and address the issues arising as a result of Brexit. Contingency planning at both a domestic and an EU level is focused on three areas: preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit”; preparing for a transition period based on the “status quo”; and preparing for the future EU-UK relationship. DBEI is a significant contributor to this process, given the wide range of Brexit impacts across the Department’s remit.

While the outcome of the December European Council and the move on to Phase 2 has lessened the likelihood of a disorderly Brexit, very detailed work on a no-deal or worst-case-scenario is advancing intensively through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  This work is progressing and is focusing on possible mitigating measures. This work is also informed by ongoing stakeholder engagement.

My own Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies to stimulate the productive capacity of the economy and create an environment which supports job-creation and jobs maintenance. Brexit impacts upon all of these areas, and on many others within the Department’s remit.

My Department recently published “Building Stronger Business” which summarises the issues facing enterprise, the policy measures my Department has already taken, those we plan to take, our research programme designed to inform these policies, and the Departmental structural reforms put in place to ensure that we can work as efficiently and effectively as possible to support our companies.

In relation to Brexit, our objective is to support firms to adapt to the challenges and opportunities Brexit presents by ensuring we have fit for purpose policies. Our strategy is to minimise risks and maximise opportunities by ensuring the growth and resilience of Irish enterprise post-Brexit working across four pillars which are:

- Helping Firms to Compete;

- Enabling Firms to Innovate;

- Supporting Firms to Trade;

- Negotiating for the Best Possible Outcome;

Several important steps have already been taken to prepare our economy, including through a range of measures announced in Budgets 2017 and 2018, the commitments included in APJ 2017, and the targets included in the Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy.

From my Department’s perspective, we are leveraging the expertise and enhancing the capacity of our Agencies to ensure that they are in the best possible position to address the needs of their clients in relation to competitiveness, innovation and trade diversification. This is being achieved through the provision of information, advice, training and other supports.

Specific DBEI actions to date include:

- The roll-out of the Brexit Loan Scheme to provide affordable financing to Irish firms impacted by Brexit. The scheme aims to make up to €300 million available to business with less than 500 employees.

- We are developing proposals for a Longer-Term Loan Scheme together with a new Business Advisory Hub service which would focus on business development to allow enterprises to position themselves for a post-Brexit environment.

- The EU Commission has approved a ‘rescue and restructuring’ scheme. The scheme can be drawn on in exceptional circumstance for a company severely affected by Brexit.

Looking forward, Action Plan for Jobs 2018 will continue to act as an effective lever for driving reforms that enhance the competitiveness of Irish firms, increase jobs and grow the resilience of our economy in the context of Brexit, while we are also finalising a review of Enterprise 2025 to take account of Brexit and other global challenges over the longer term.