John Curran
Question:80. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the risk assessments as a result of Brexit her Department has carried out with regard to international trade. [18050/17]
View answerTuesday, 16 May 2017
Questions (80)
Written answers
On 29 March 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May formally notified the European Council of the UK's intention to leave the EU in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This means that the two-year exit process has now commenced.
My Department has contributed to the central risk assessment, coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach, over the course of the past two years.
My Department is undertaking research to examine the implications at firm-level for the most exposed enterprise sectors of the UK being outside of the European Single Market and Customs Union. This research will inform an assessment of the way in which Brexit will affect individual sectors of the economy and our targeted response.
My department is also commencing work to profile the composition of trade and investment for Ireland and a range of EU Member States with the UK. This will provide an evidence base to inform Ireland’s policy positions as part of the wider negotiation on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
At the strategic level, Enterprise 2025 sets out the roadmap for enterprise development, and details the actions required and being taken to support the manufacturing and service sectors. Our new trade and investment strategy, Ireland Connected, will be backed up by increasing our agency resources both at home and overseas and an intensified programme of trade missions.
Enterprise Ireland is working with firms to support the identification of new overseas markets. We are engaging with companies to help them adapt to currency fluctuations and to support product and market diversification.
Further, my Department is also funding a project through InterTrade Ireland on the North-South trade implications of Brexit. This project will provide an understanding of the impact of different trade and tariff regimes which might be imposed following Brexit.
We have made it a priority to minimise the impact of Brexit on Ireland's trade and on our economy. Supporting the development and growth of indigenous companies and maximising Foreign Direct investment are key activities of my Department and Agencies.