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Vol. 965 Wednesday, No. 2 7 February 2018 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 07/02/2018A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 07/02/2018A00200Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 07/02/2018A00300Brexit Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 07/02/2018B00350Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 07/02/2018C00500Research Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 07/02/2018D00250Employment Rights � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 07/02/2018D01000Startup Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 07/02/2018E00700Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 07/02/2018E00750Regional Development Initiatives � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 07/02/2018F00600IDA Ireland Supports � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 07/02/2018G00300IDA Ireland Site Visits� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17 07/02/2018G02300Workplace Relations Commission � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 07/02/2018H00800Brexit Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 07/02/2018J00600Waste Disposal� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24 07/02/2018K00400Brexit Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25 07/02/2018K01000Death of former Ceann Comhairle: Expressions of Sympathy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 07/02/2018M00500Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 07/02/2018Q00300Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 40 07/02/2018U00500Arts (Dignity at Work) (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 51 07/02/2018U01400Extreme Weather (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 53 07/02/2018V00800Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 07/02/2018V00900Urban Renewal Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 07/02/2018W00350World Economic Forum � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 58 07/02/2018Z00600Strategic Communications Unit� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 65 07/02/2018AA00800Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 68 07/02/2018GG00100Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 69 07/02/2018GG00200Child Protection � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 69 07/02/2018HH00300Medicinal Products Reimbursement� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 71 07/02/2018JJ00400Hospital Facilities� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 74 07/02/2018KK00450Rail Network � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 77 07/02/2018LL01300Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 80 07/02/2018XX00600National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Order for Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 107 07/02/2018XX00900National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 107 07/02/2018ZZ00500Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 111 07/02/2018NNN00300National Broadband Procurement Process: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 138 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 7 Feabhra 2018 Wednesday, 7 February 2018 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. Paidir. Prayer. 07/02/2018A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 07/02/2018A00200Priority Questions 07/02/2018A00300Brexit Issues 07/02/2018A0040029� Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the contingencies and supports in place to safeguard Irish SMEs and export businesses from a hard Brexit scenario including revision of state aid rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/18] 07/02/2018A00500Deputy Niall Collins: I was in London three weeks ago with my colleagues, Deputy Don- nelly and Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and we met representatives from the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and from an all-party committee in Westminster. It is fair to say that our take-away was that it is pretty shambolic over there, which is not news to us, but it is against that backdrop I wish again to ask the Minister to outline the contingencies and supports she is putting in place to safeguard Irish SMEs and in particular exporting businesses in view of a potential hard Brexit, which may eventually arise. 07/02/2018A00600Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Heather Humphreys): I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Extensive work has been ongoing in my Department to prepare for all Brexit eventualities. This includes both research and the development of spe- cific supports. Officials of my Department have had discussions with senior officials from DG Competition on the potential and the real difficulties encountered by Irish businesses as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. In November 2017, the then Tánaiste met Commissioner Vestager and the issue of state aid was discussed. An outcome from this meeting was the estab- lishment of a working group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, 129 Dáil Éireann Food and the Marine. The objective of the group is to scope and design schemes to support en- terprises impacted by Brexit in line with current applicable state aid rules. Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing state aid rules, they will be raised as part of the working group discussions. The work of the group has already commenced and it is due to have its third meeting in February 2018. In between these meetings, there has been engagement on specific issues to continue to progress matters. A rescue and restructuring, R&R, scheme was approved by the Commission in late Novem- ber 2017. This scheme has been put in place as it was considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances if necessary. A Brexit loan scheme was announced in budget 2018. This will provide affordable work- ing capital financing to eligible businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit, or will be in the future. The recent signing of the counter guarantee means the €23 million Exchequer funding, comprising €14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, can be leveraged to provide a €300 million fund from the Eu- ropean Commission and the European Investment Band, EIB, Group through its InnovFin loan guarantee scheme. The scheme will be open to businesses of fewer than 500 employees, which can demonstrate that they are significantly exposed to the impact, or potential impact, of Brexit. They must be a viable business, doing business in Ireland, and they must have a business devel- opment strategy demonstrating that they plan to innovate or adapt in response to Brexit. The agencies of my Department are also fully engaged