Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
88. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had with the European Commission or other European bodies on the possibility of additional funding as a consequence of Brexit; if she has had discussions with the European Union on relaxing of state aid rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18073/19]
View answerMy Department and I are engaged in ongoing dialogue with colleagues in the European Commission DG Competition in relation to the issues arising for Ireland in the context of various Brexit scenarios and the potential severe impacts on the Irish enterprise base, jobs and regional economies.
Specifically, on 24th January 2019 I met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy, at my Department. The focus of this meeting centred around the severe challenges that Irish businesses, especially SMEs, will face when the UK leaves the European Union and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. It was agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner’s team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implications become known. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.
My officials have ongoing engagement with senior officials in DG Competition. In November 2017, my predecessor met with Commissioner Vestager to discuss, amongst other things, the impact of Brexit on Irish businesses. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Technical Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.
Much has been achieved by this Working Group. It has examined and explored a range of opportunities within State Aid rules including the development of the Future Growth Loan Scheme , which I announced on the 17th April. This Scheme is a €300m loan scheme for SMEs and farmers, to support their strategic long-term investment plans post Brexit. Ireland's Rescue and Restructuring scheme has also been expanded to include Temporary liquidity and had it's budget increased to €200m. Through the mechanism of the Technical Working Group Ireland has fully utilised the provisions of the State aid framework to enable the investment by Enterprise Ireland of €74 million in Brexit impacted businesses in 2018.
The Group is currently working closely with DG Agriculture to explore the range of opportunities under the Agriculture and Forestry State aid guidelines, and as part of this, State Aid approval was received in February for capital investment by Enterprise Ireland in an Irish cheese producing company, Carbery Food Ingredients Ltd, to help the company towards financing a diversification project to mitigate the impacts of Brexit.
