Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she continues to engage with investment and job creation interests in Northern Ireland with a view to maintaining the best possible relationship of a mutually beneficial nature with Northern Ireland and the EU in the aftermath of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20896/19]
View answerThe Government is determined to maintain the closest possible North-South trading relationship on the island of Ireland after Brexit. Cross-border trade is now at an all-time high and my Department and its Agencies are working to protect and sustain that two-way enterprise relationship as best we can.
Important work in that context continues to be undertaken by InterTradeIreland (ITI), one of the six North-South Implementation Bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. ITI, which is jointly funded by my Department and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy (DfE), has a mandate to develop and support North-South trade. It is therefore particularly well-placed to assist businesses in preparing for the commercial challenges associated with Brexit. Officials in my Department are in regular contact with their DfE counterparts to ensure the body is supported and equipped to carry out this important work. My Department provided an additional €1 million to ITI this year which has enabled the body to engage with more companies seeking support through its Brexit Advisory Service, as well as meeting demand for existing programmes which are all designed to promote and support cross-border trade.
Enterprise Ireland, meanwhile, has a longstanding collaboration with Invest Northern Ireland (INI). There is regular contact between the two agencies on a range of policies and initiatives that support business and employment in the two jurisdictions. Over the past two years there has been more specific contact and cooperation on Brexit supports. In addition, EI, INI and ITI meet regularly to facilitate inter-agency coordination and cooperation.
Minimising the impact of Brexit on cross-border trade and employment will remain a key priority for the Government. We continue to work towards an outcome that will maintain the closest and most positive possible trading relationship between the UK and Ireland following Brexit.
