Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
620. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to research by InterTradeIreland indicating that 95% of companies here still do not have a formal plan on the way in which to deal with Brexit; and if a practical advice campaign will be launched to address this deficit. [54603/17]
View answerThe research referred to underlines the importance of the work my Department and its enterprise agencies are collectively undertaking with respect to the UK's withdrawal from the EU. This includes efforts to help businesses plan and prepare for the specific challenges that Brexit is likely to pose to their commercial activity. Much of our broader work so far to help mitigate the impact of Brexit on Irish firms is captured in my Department's recently published response paper to the UK's impending exit from the EU, entitled "Building Stronger Business - Responding to Brexit by Competing, Innovating and Trading". This paper summarises the policy measures already taken, outlines future initiatives we intend to take forward and details the steps the Department has taken already to ensure that we can work as efficiently as possible to support our companies.
Our State Agencies have been very active in helping businesses prepare for the post-Brexit commercial environment and this work is ongoing. InterTradeIreland itself, for example, has introduced an initiative to assist SMEs, including the provision of expert advice on Brexit. It has also organised an extensive series of awareness raising events in various locations, both North and South.
Enterprise Ireland, meanwhile, has launched a "Brexit SME Scorecard" - effectively a new interactive platform which can be used by Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit. The Agency has also introduced a "Be Prepared Grant" that helps SME clients meet the costs of implementing a plan to mitigate risks arising from Brexit. Furthermore, the Local Enterprise Office Network are hosting information events around the country aimed at helping companies plan for Brexit.
