Skip to main content
Normal View

Brexit Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Questions (143)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he can continue to support the interests of the business community North and South in the context of the Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4402/19]

View answer

Written answers

Throughout the negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement, I, as well as officials from my Department, engaged in extensive contact with representatives from EU Member States, the Commission and Taskforce, and the UK, to advance Ireland’s priorities.

The Withdrawal Agreement, as agreed in November, and adopted by the European Council, is the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU. It can provide certainty to citizens and business, North and South, as we continue our preparations for the new relationship with UK outside the EU. It puts in place a period of transition, up to December 2020, and extendable for up to one or two years, if needed, during which EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the UK. This will allow for the negotiation of an agreement on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, which we hope will be deep and comprehensive.

At the same time, the Withdrawal Agreement, through the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, protects continuing North-South cooperation and the all-island economy while also recognising the continuation of the Common Travel Area.

It includes the backstop, which provides a guarantee that there will be no hard border no matter what the outcome is to the negotiations on the future relationship, and that the existing frictionless travel and North-South trade will be maintained.

Under the measures included for a backstop, should it need to be invoked, a UK-wide customs territory would apply, ensuring no tariffs or quotas, and including well-established rules with regard to ensuring a level playing field. Northern Ireland would remain aligned to those rules of the Single Market that are indispensable to avoiding a hard border and protecting the all-island economy. It would provide businesses in Northern Ireland with the best of both worlds, access to the EU Single Market and the ability to trade freely with the rest of the UK.

I should be clear that the backstop acts simply as an insurance policy, which we hope will never have to be used. It remains our priority to achieve a future relationship agreement that can resolve all these issues and obviate the need for the backstop. We are determined to work quickly toward that best possible outcome. The Political Declaration makes clear the EU and UK’s shared ambition to reach an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership across trade and economic cooperation, among other areas.

At the same time, as part of the Government's long-standing and intensive Brexit planning and contingency work, we are providing an array of supports and information measures to assist businesses in Ireland to respond and prepare themselves. Across three Budgets, since 2016, the Government has put in place dedicated measures and schemes for the business and agrifood sector. This includes the Future Growth Loan Scheme, a €300 million fund to support strategic capital investment for a post-Brexit environment by business, and €71 million to further strengthen the agriculture sector’s ability to become more resilient in addressing the challenges of Brexit. Capital expenditure of €116 billion over the coming decade under Project Ireland 2040 will also allow the State and its Agencies to plan properly major infrastructure projects, while ensuring that communities and businesses can plan ahead.

Government enterprise agencies continue to work with companies, helping them to deal with Brexit – making them more competitive, diversifying market exposure, and up-skilling teams. Both Enterprise Ireland and Inter-Trade Ireland are providing grants to businesses to help them get Brexit-ready.

To better inform business and the public at large, the Government has also overseen a coordinated communication and outreach campaign, Getting Ireland Brexit Ready , through the Brexit website, social media and public events.

Top
Share