Seán Haughey
Question:52. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has recruited experts in custom affairs to prepare for Brexit. [27559/17]
View answerWednesday, 5 July 2017
Questions (52)
Written answers
I wish to inform the Deputy that across Government, relevant Departments, agencies and overseas missions have been strengthened to deal with Brexit. The Irish Government has a team of Ministers who know the business of Europe well, as well as a team of diplomats and officials with extensive experience of challenging international negotiations, for example, the Good Friday Agreement, the European Constitution negotiations and a number of EU level treaty negotiations.
The considerable expertise of Government Departments and Agencies is augmented as required by partnering in, funding or commissioning studies and research relevant to Brexit. Examples include Scoping the Possible Economic implications of Brexit on Ireland (ESRI); Brexit: Potential Implications for the Agri-Food Sector (Teagasc). My Department has also published internal research including 'UK EU Exit - an Exposure Analysis of Sectors of the Irish Economy' in conjunction with Budget 2017.
As part of the whole-of-Government approach to Brexit, I am advised that the Revenue Commissioners, who are the competent Customs authority in the State, are actively engaged in examining a range of scenarios in order to support Ireland’s objectives in the context of Brexit, that they have redeployed additional staff to prepare for Brexit and are keeping resources required under review on an ongoing basis. I am further informed that they are engaging in ongoing contacts with business through the Customs Consultative Committee and other fora to understand the issues arising and provide guidance.
Full information on customs procedures is available on the Revenue website www.revenue.ie/en/customs/index.html .
Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 23.