Call for a Brexit minister in charge of contingency plan
IRELAND needs a minister with a portfolio dedicated to handling the implications of Brexit, small firms chief Mark Fieldings said last night.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association CEO has called on the Government to create a dedicated unit within the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation to coordinate the various strands of activity to counter the negative effect of the Brexit vote.
In particular, Isme called for an immediate implementation of the Government’s ‘Plan B’ in relation to the short-term effect of currency fluctuation for SME exporters.
The Plan B, or contingency plan, was announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Friday. Key measures will include a new hotline for Irish exporters and an ‘intensification of UK market support’ which will also see the Government seek to identify and evaluate ‘key business opportunities’.
The contingency plan notes that a decrease in exports to the UK will negatively affect industry, but it also highlights potential opportunities.
Other key actions identified include a possible early meeting of the British-Irish Council.
Also, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland will be tasked with spreading the message that while the UK is a member of the European Union, travel between the UK and on the island of Ireland remains free of barriers.
Mr Fielding said yesterday: ‘Of utmost importance now is the continuing battle for competitiveness and a renewed focus must be placed on government influenced business costs.
‘Restoring Ireland’s cost competitiveness is a prerequisite for enhancing our attractiveness as a place to do business, not just for foreign direct investment but for our own indigenous enterprises.
‘Isme welcomes the thrust of the Plan B announced on Friday, however there needs to be one government minister placed in charge of the plan for the longer term, to ensure action, co-ordination and responsibility are taken,’ he concluded.
Isme has started a survey, set to be published next week, on the impact on its members.