Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 May 2017
229. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full and part-time staff respectively hired since 1 January 2017 to work directly on Brexit related issues on a Department-wide basis and in each State agency under his auspices in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25162/17]
View answerFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, my Department established a dedicated Brexit and Coordination Trade Division which is currently comprised of 4 experienced staff. The Division co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff, through an internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of 16 people drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development). Of course, Brexit also occupies a considerable amount of my own time and that of Minister of State Doyle, as well as the Secretary General and other senior officials in the Department. The Brexit Coordination Division also feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach. A dedicated Market Access Unit has also been established within the Meat and Milk Policy Division with 3 staff. Staffing requirements for Brexit associated functions are constantly under review and my Department is currently in the process of recruiting/assigning additional resources to a number of areas including the Brexit Division, the fisheries area and to functions associated with product certification to support trade. To date in 2017, my Department has hired 92 full time staff to work on a variety of issues including Brexit although, in the main Brexit issues are being dealt with by experienced DAFM staff.
Staff hires within State agencies under my Department's auspices are a matter for the State Bodies themselves once they remain within their budget set in their Delegated Sanction.
