Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1473. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the potential impact of Brexit on the roll-out of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38665/17]
View answer1474. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the meetings which have taken place with Northern Ireland officials regarding the impact of Brexit in 2017; the planned meetings regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38666/17]
View answer1476. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38689/17]
View answer1477. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38705/17]
View answer1478. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including threats and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38721/17]
View answer1479. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit. [38737/17]
View answer1480. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38753/17]
View answer1481. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38769/17]
View answer1482. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38801/17]
View answer1483. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vacancies in his Department for Brexit-related roles; the expected date for these roles to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38817/17]
View answer1484. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38833/17]
View answer1485. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the membership and role of all Brexit-related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38849/17]
View answer1486. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the Brexit related research currently being undertaken by his Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38881/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1473 and 1474, and Questions Nos. 1476 to 1486, inclusive, together.
The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’s Approach” published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a co-ordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.
Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.
My Department nominated the Assistant Secretary for Energy to take lead responsibility for Brexit matters. Under the chairmanship of this Assistant Secretary, a sub-committee, consisting of Principal Officers representing policy areas with potential Brexit implications in my Department, has been convened.
This sub-committee has representatives from the divisions of my Department, reflecting its broad remit . The sub-committee meets regularly to ensure that my Department is prepared for the possible implications of Brexit. I would also add that I as Minister participate in the Cabinet committee on Brexit and my Department is also represented on the Interdepartmental Brexit Group. This ensures a ‘whole of Government’ approach when dealing with Brexit.
Brexit is a standing item on the Agenda of my Department's Management Board which generally meets weekly and which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department. It is also on the Agenda of my monthly meetings with the Management Board which examines progress on priority issues being addressed by the Department.
Officials from my Department discuss the potential impacts of Brexit on the Irish energy sector at meetings with their EU and UK counterparts, including officials from the UK's Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Exiting the European Union.
The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.
It is not possible at this stage to say with certainty what impact the UK leaving the EU will have on sectors including energy and broadband. This will be largely dependent on the shape of the future relationship between the EU and UK. The UK has not yet indicated its position on the future relationship, nor has the stage been reached in the UK/EU negotiations for discussion of future trade issues. Accordingly it is not yet possible to provide a detailed assessment. However officials are working on assessing the potential ramifications of the various potential outcomes.
As set out in the comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.
My Department has identified energy as the highest priority sector and has published on its website a summary of Brexit energy priorities. (http://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Brexit%20and%20the%20Irish%20Energy%20Sector.pdf.). However, there have also been a number of other papers and reports published on these issues, including by the ESRI and IBEC.
Principal amongst these issues identified in my Department’s paper are maintenance of secure energy trading between the UK and EU Member States and maintaining the Single Electricity Market across the island of Ireland. The focus of my Department is on seeking to identify the risks and opportunities that may emerge as a result of Brexit and to develop appropriate strategies for these.
As regards stakeholder engagement, my Department held a very successful public All Island Brexit Civic Dialogue on Energy on 6 February in Boyle, Co. Roscommon. A further Civic Dialogue to address the concerns of the energy industry is planned before the end of the year. Further Civic Dialogues are to be considered. My Department has regular meetings with stakeholders across its remit, which afford it an opportunity for intelligence gathering and discussion of issues stakeholders identify in relation to Brexit.
Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:
- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;
- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectoral policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.
In relation to Northern Ireland, the All-island Energy Market Joint Steering Group comprises senior officials from my Department, the Department of Economy – Northern Ireland, the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland. It meets on a quarterly basis.
Two papers outlining Ireland’s energy priorities were submitted to Task Force 50, the Brexit EU negotiating team. Senior officials in relevant divisions of my Department prepared a paper detailing Brexit's main impacts, with recommendations, to provide a comprehensive overview of sectoral issues faced within the Department.
Energy has been identified as a key priority for my Department and Government in the Brexit negotiations and as a result, the Strategic Energy Policy Division - consisting of four staff - has taken a leading role in coordinating all Brexit work across my Department. There is one vacancy in this division which it is hoped will be filled shortly.
All costs relating to Brexit activities in my Department are met by existing budgets.
Research concerning “Cyber Security and Infrastructural Interdependencies” was completed for my Department in June of this year. For confidentiality purposes this research will not be published. Independent research specific to energy has been published, though not commissioned by the Minister.
In June of this year the National Broadband Plan Division engaged external consultants to consider “the potential implications of Brexit on the National Broadband Plan”. The Department has not yet received the final report from the consultants. It is not yet possible to say what impact Brexit will have on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. In September 2015, the Government published its 6 year Capital Plan, Building on Recovery, which included an allocation of €275m for the National Broadband Plan. This will provide the initial stimulus required to deliver the Government's intervention and it is expected that further funding will be available over the lifetime of any contract(s). Funding of €75m is committed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); State expenditure of €150m is required before the €75m under the European Regional Development Fund can be drawn down.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland’s absolute preference is to maintain the closest possible trading relationship based on a level playing field between the UK and the EU, including Ireland. Government is clear that Ireland’s economic interests lie firmly in a strong and well-functioning EU with continued and unfettered access to the single market.
