Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017
21. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of current work by her Department and agencies under its aegis regarding Brexit, protecting jobs and attracting new jobs here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14412/17]
View answerMy Department and the enterprise agencies are fully committed to supporting business and all of our stakeholders in this period of heightened uncertainty.
I have established various structures in my Department, commissioned research and secured additional funding to support our work on Brexit.
Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs are steadily working with companies to make sure that they are better prepared to respond to the challenges that Brexit will bring.
Enterprise Ireland has been systematically engaging with its 1,500 clients that export to the UK.
Enterprise Ireland's strategy is to:
- Strengthen our ability to penetrate the UK market so as to sustain and grow exports.
- Strengthen our ability to penetrate other key markets to reduce dependence on the UK.
- Invest in programmes to ensure that clients have the finances, innovation, leadership and scale to grow in international markets.
- Strengthen the ability at local and regional level to generate more start-ups and businesses with export potential.
IDA Ireland continues to actively pursue any opportunity for mobile investment. IDA will continue to:
- Work with its existing client base to assist and support them to grow;
- Highlight Ireland's continued strong offering – for example, Ireland's continued access to the EU market; and
- Be in contact with clients and prospective clients across the globe and continue to market a competitive value proposition to attract mobile investment from global locations including the UK.
Science Foundation Ireland is working to strengthen collaboration with the UK and is also seeking to expand its range of actions to take advantage of Brexit opportunities.
Enterprise between North and South could be impacted in many ways by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU - in this regard the role of Intertrade Ireland is vital.
We are providing InterTrade Ireland with additional funding this year to undertake a range of initiatives for SMEs. This will involve the provision of factual advice, supports for capability building and the provision of other specialist expertise for companies.
My Department is also funding a research project to be undertaken for InterTrade Ireland by the ESRI. This will improve our understanding of the impact of different trade and tariff regimes which might be imposed following Brexit.
