Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2019
43. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the discussions that have been held with the European Commission on possible sources of funding from the EU to assist Ireland to deal with the fallout from a possible no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9858/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key action point of the Government’s response to Brexit has been to make the case, at EU level, for support to be directed towards the most impacted areas of the Irish economy. As a result, I believe that there is a strong understanding at EU level of the unique and disproportionate impact that Brexit will have on Ireland.
This has been reflected in a number of concrete measures and commitments to date, such as the EIB’s support for the Government’s Brexit Loan Scheme. In its Contingency Action Plan of 13 November, the European Commission confirmed that it would support Ireland in finding solutions addressing the specific challenges of Irish businesses.
In March last year, the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, Mr Gunther Oettinger visited Dublin and met with the Taoiseach, Minister of State D’Arcy and I, to discuss the negotiations on the EU’s post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). During that visit, the Tánaiste met with Mr Oettinger to discuss the negative consequences to the Irish economy resulting from Brexit, and the possibility of EU assistance was raised, particularly in relation to the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. Following that meeting, the Tánaiste has been in further contact with Mr Oettinger to outline a number of key areas in which the MFF can help to address the macroeconomic and trade implications for Ireland of Brexit and has identified a number of EU programmes in the next MFF which could be well placed to assist Ireland in addressing these Brexit impacts.
Minister Creed also held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hogan in late January to discuss the potential impact of a no deal Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors.
Separately, Minister Humphreys met with Commissioner Vestager in Dublin on 24 January, where Ireland’s particular concerns were again discussed.
The Government will continue to take a whole of Government approach in engagement with the European Commission on possible sources of funding from the EU to assist Ireland with the fall out from a possible no deal Brexit. My colleague in Government, the Tánaiste, Mr Simon Coveney, T.D will continue to co-ordinate and lead Ireland's Brexit approach in that regard.
