Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2016
264. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20304/16]
View answerThe result of the referendum means that the UK electorate have declared their wish to leave the EU. It is important to be clear that the UK has not yet left the EU. Until it formally withdraws from the Union, the UK remains a full member, with all of its existing rights and obligations.
The terms of a British exit from the EU are unknown at this stage. Negotiations between all EU member states, including Ireland, on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU are expected to take place over at least two years and possibly longer. The Department of Health will be fully involved in these negotiations.
A sub-committee of the Management Board was set up in advance of the UK referendum to examine the potential consequences of a UK decision to leave the EU on healthcare in Ireland and for Irish citizens. This sub-committee will build on initial work completed to undertake a full audit of the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies arising over the longer term, in the phases preceding and following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It includes representatives from each division within the Department and is chaired at senior level.
Staff from my Department are in regular contact with other Departments on the issue of the UK vote to leave the EU. The Department of Health is also represented on the Senior Officials Group on EU Affairs and on the Interdepartmental Group on EU/UK Affairs, which are both coordinated centrally by the Department of the Taoiseach.
