51. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the EU Director General of Competition did not approve the proposed plan she put forward for a rescue and restructure scheme for businesses impacted by Brexit following her meeting with Commissioner Vestager in November 2017; the reasons the EU Director General of Competition and the Commissioner decided not to approve the scheme at this point in time; the specific reasons for same; and if state aid rules issues were raised. [48617/17]

A Rescue and Restructure scheme was recently notified to the Directorate General for Competition (DG Comp) as a contingency measure in response to Brexit.

This scheme is working its way through the normal approval channels within DG Comp and we have not been advised that any issue has arisen in regards to this standard approval process.

My Officials expect that this scheme will be approved shortly.