By Business & Finance 
Michael Jackson, Managing Partner with Matheson; former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and John Ryan, Head of US Offices for Matheson
The Navigating Access to the EU Market Post-Brexit: Perspectives on Ireland event in New York was attended by over 200 people across a wide range of sectors, including IDA Ireland.
Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the Brexit-themed event organised by Matheson, Ireland’s leading law firm for internationally-focused companies doing business in and through Ireland. He stated the transition period for the UK to leave the EU should be “as long as it takes to find a solution”.
Kenny also lamented a ‘hard Brexit’ saying it would be “catastrophic for business” and noted that “sufficient progress had not been made” to allow negotiations move on to their second phase. He spoke to Bloomberg in New York yesterday before the conference.
Speaking at the conference, Matheson Managing Partner, Michael Jackson, said: “In the absence of the necessary clarity around Brexit, businesses are now making decisions to secure their long-term ability to access European markets beyond Brexit. Ireland’s proven track record of supporting internationally-focused companies means that it is strongly positioned to partner with these companies as they now make decisions around their medium- to long-term plans. Ireland is committed to remaining at the heart of the EU and EU decision-making, and has a history of providing legal and regulatory certainty, tax certainty, access to European markets and substance. Ireland will be the only English-speaking, common law country in the EU post-Brexit and it is committed to its 12.5% corporation tax rate.”
Head of Matheson US Offices, John Ryan, said: “Notwithstanding the uncertainty around global trade policy as well as US tax reform and the challenges around Brexit, Matheson sees the Irish-US relationship growing stronger and Ireland becoming an even more important gateway to EU markets for US companies.”
