John Lahart
Question:334. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's plans to organise a global Irish Brexit forum along the lines of previous global Irish forums held in Farmleigh. [5351/17]
View answerTuesday, 7 February 2017
Questions (334)
Written answers
Since well before the UK referendum of 23 June 2016, the Government, its diplomatic missions and state agencies have engaged with influential Irish people in the UK and elsewhere. The input and ideas gained from these contacts is of great value as we respond to the UK exit from the European Union. This includes helpful analysis and guidance on both the challenges and opportunities involved, especially in the areas of trade and investment.
A key element of the Government’s consultation work so far has been the ongoing All-island Civic Dialogue on Brexit, a process across the island of Ireland and including members of the Irish diaspora in the UK. The first plenary session of the All-island Civic Dialogue, which the Taoiseach and I hosted, took place on 2 November 2016 at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin. This event has since been supplemented by a series of All-island Civic Dialogue events at sectoral level. Drawing from the work of these sectoral meetings, a second plenary event will take place in Dublin Castle on Friday 17 February.
This consultation process allows the Government to listen to, and to capture, the views of those most directly affected by the impact of Brexit from across the island in advance of formal negotiations.
Question No. 335 answered with Question No. 331.