UK Referendum on EU Membership

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Questions (24, 25, 26)

Gerry Adams

Question:

24. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans to reform his Department to manage the response to Brexit. [22525/16]

View answer

Brendan Howlin

Question:

25. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to report on the new Cabinet committee on Brexit. [22821/16]

View answer

26. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans to reorganise his Department in response to Britain's exiting of the European Union; if this will involve the transfer of departmental functions or staff from other Departments; and the number of staff who will be working on Brexit exclusively in his Department. [22822/16]

View answer

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 to 26, inclusive, together.

It is necessary to put in place new structures across Government to deal effectively with the implications for Ireland of the UK's vote to the leave the EU.

I will chair a new Cabinet Committee that will oversee the overall Government response including both the economic impact and the negotiations at EU level and with the administrations in London and Belfast. A senior official will be appointed to the Department of the Taoiseach who will head-up a division incorporating the EU, British-Irish and Northern Ireland and International Divisions and who will be responsible for ensuring a comprehensive whole of government response.

The Department of Foreign Affairs will also have a bigger role on EU matters.

In addition, there will be a strengthening of staffing in other key Departments and agencies and our missions abroad to ensure we have the capacity to deal with Brexit.

There is also a clear need for broader public dialogue - including on an inclusive all-island basis, on all of the many issues that may face the people of the island, North and South. There will also be an ongoing engagement with other parties in the Oireachtas. This is in addition to engagement with the Brexit Stakeholder Group which has already been meeting for some time now.