Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which efforts continue to ensure the development and growth of enterprise, trade and employment respectively on the island of Ireland, and notwithstanding Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22332/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The growth and development of the all-island economy is one of the lasting effects of the Peace Process. The 25 years of peace that the Good Friday Agreement has brought has provided stability to the people and businesses on our island. This stability has led to a certainty that has allowed businesses on both sides of the border to grow and prosper.

The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union has presented a generational challenge to the people of our island both North and South. The Windsor Framework, however, marks a positive new chapter in EU-UK relations, allowing us to forge a stronger partnership to address shared global challenges. This new relationship will present us with opportunities to advance further the all-island economy.

InterTradeIreland, the all-island trade and business development body, plays a central role in my Department’s support for the all-island economy. Established under the Good Friday Agreement, the body has been instrumental in helping to grow businesses on the island and to develop their capacity to trade cross-border. To date InterTradeIreland has assisted over 50,000 businesses on the island, created or protected 19,000 new jobs and generated more than €1.6 billion in business development value.

InterTradeIreland has also played a key role in supporting businesses to continue to trade successfully across the island in the post-Brexit trading environment. Its Brexit Advisory Service was an extremely successful programme, with ITI making over 1,800 total approvals over the duration of the scheme, to a total value of more than €7 million. ITI is currently developing a new Trade Information Service that will build on the success of its Advisory Service. They are in the process of finalising this scheme, which will launch later this year.

Another core element of the Government’s efforts towards enhancing cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on our island is the Shared Island initiative. This will be key to unlocking further opportunities in the all-island economy in the years to come. Officials from my Department are continuing to work closely with the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, as well as our agencies and other relevant stakeholders, to identify ways in which he can further grow and develop the all-island economy.

Strengthening the all-island economy remains a goal of my Department and we will continue to work towards enhancing it and fostering trade and business opportunities both North and South.