Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
62. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions her Department is having with its counterpart in Northern Ireland on the need to implement programmes on a cross-Border basis to assist businesses and enterprise that will be affected adversely by Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44669/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy, co-fund the cross-border body InterTrade Ireland (ITI). ITI has specific responsibility for developing North-South trade and assisting SMEs, on both sides of the border, to develop their export potential.
Given its mandate, ITI is especially well-placed to help businesses throughout Ireland prepare for and address the specific commercial challenges that Brexit may create for cross-border trade. The body is already providing a range of Brexit-related services to its client companies and will continue to do so in the time ahead. Additional funding has been made available from my Department to support this important work and we continue to keep ITI's requirements under review.
My Department's officials engage regularly with their counterparts from the Department for the Economy regarding funding for ITI and the programmes - whether Brexit-related or otherwise - the body carries out. This engagement is ongoing.
