Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
130. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the UK 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. [20338/16]
View answerIn early 2015 I established a new Division in my Department to focus specifically on relations between Ireland and Britain including bilateral issues that arise in the context of the EU-UK debate. This Division is working very closely with the EU Division in my Department which plays a central role in relation to the EU aspects of this issue.
My Department co-ordinated preparations across government for the result of the UK referendum on EU membership to ensure that a clear contingency framework was in place to deal with the outcome of the UK referendum when it became known.
Structures are in place to co-ordinate EU/UK issues on a whole-of-government basis. These will be kept under review and strengthened as necessary. They include: the Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs and the EU Senior Officials Group which supports it; an Inter-Departmental Senior Officials Group on UK-EU relations; and a consultative group of external stakeholders, including ICTU, IBEC and other business representative groups and relevant NGOs.
The North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council will also be important coordinating mechanisms as will the Joint Ireland-UK Secretaries General-Permanent Secretaries group which oversees a bilateral Ireland-UK policy programme.
My Department will continue to play a central role in managing a whole-of-government response to the outcome of the UK EU referendum.
