Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2019
57. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific measures in the public relations campaign that started on 4 September 2019 on national and local radio on Brexit preparation aimed at County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government-wide ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ public information campaign was launched on 20 September 2018.
In the initial phase of this campaign, my Department organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events in Cork, Galway, Monaghan, Dublin, Limerick and Donegal throughout autumn 2018 to inform and advise citizens and businesses about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and resources that the Government has put in place. These events brought together over a dozen Agencies and their parent Departments – the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - under one roof and were attended by approximately 2,500 people over the October-November period.
In the lead up to the March and April Brexit deadlines this year, my Department is working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach and other Government Departments initiated a Brexit preparedness public information campaign. This campaign ran to ensure that key audiences were aware of the potential impact of a No Deal Brexit and the mitigation measures that they could take, with the support of Government where appropriate and with particular reference to the gov.ie/Brexit website. This national and local campaign activity was across TV, radio, print, internet and social media.
Building on the ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ roadshows and the broad ranging information campaign in advance of the March and April Brexit deadlines, I along with Minister Heather Humphries and Minister Helen McEntee launched a ‘Getting Your Business Brexit Ready – Practical Steps’ campaign in September. This campaign informed businesses and consumers on the practical steps that all businesses should take to prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU. Central to this campaign is a user-friendly digital booklet, which provides a comprehensive overview for businesses on the core steps they should take, and it can be accessed at gov.ie/Brexit.
In addition to this booklet, a two week national and local radio campaign urged businesses to take action and review readiness under 9 key areas. This campaign targeted businesses and other affected sectors and encouraged them to take the necessary steps to mitigate the risk in advance of the Brexit deadline of 31 October 2019. This ad campaign was followed by a further citizen awareness public information campaign which ran on national and local radio in the first two weeks of October. In Cork County the radio advertisements were carried on Cork’s 96FM and C103.
