Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
696. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an assessment has been carried out on the way import duty would impact on the trading of goods with Britain and Northern Ireland post-Brexit; and if import duty will be set at 23%. [34605/16]
View answer699. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a statistical breakdown on an annual basis of cross-Border trade and tourism in County Donegal since 2014; and if her Department has conducted research into the likely implications arising from Brexit on trade and tourism throughout the Border region. [34608/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 696 and 699 together.
Promoting cross-border trade in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for the Government as a whole.
It is, of course, hard to predict at this stage what the impact of Brexit will be for all of Ireland, including border counties such as Donegal. 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.
It is clear that the cross-border market on the island is a particularly important one for SMEs, with nearly two thirds of Northern Ireland small firm exports going South and one sixth of Ireland’s small firm exports going North.
InterTrade Ireland is initiating a research project to examine the impact of differing trade regimes which may emerge in the post-Brexit environment. This study will include an analysis of tariff rates to look at the range of possible impacts for products currently traded between both jurisdictions.
I am engaged strongly with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to ensure that Irish jobs are maintained and created. I am in ongoing communication with these agencies, and chair a Brexit Coordination Group which includes the senior management of my Department and the CEOs of the agencies.
IDA Ireland will continue to work to implement its business development strategy for the North West, which includes Donegal, to help it maximise investment in the Region. Among its targets, this strategy will see the Agency seeking to secure potential “second site” investments from companies with existing operations in Dublin, as well as pursuing new investments for the region.
Enterprise Ireland is working with its 1,500 clients who export to the UK, looking at the individual challenges faced by companies in every county in Ireland and also on a sectoral level, as some sectors are more exposed than others.
From a strategic perspective Enterprise Ireland has a two pronged approach. It is working to assist companies to maintain and grow UK exports and extend their international reach. It is also supporting companies in enhancing their competitiveness to protect and grow Irish exports and jobs. In this regard, EI is assisting clients to improve their processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions and undertake R&D and innovation with a view to improving existing products and processes or developing new ones.
