Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1913. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38693/17]
View answer1914. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38709/17]
View answer1915. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including threats and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38725/17]
View answer1916. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the scenario planning that has been conducted by her Department for Brexit. [38741/17]
View answer1917. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38757/17]
View answer1918. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38773/17]
View answer1919. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38805/17]
View answer1921. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38837/17]
View answer1923. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the Brexit-related research currently being undertaken by her Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38885/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1913 to 1919, inclusive, 1921 and 1923 together.
The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ 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 coordinated 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 & Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.
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.
As set out in 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.
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.
The Government's objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights and social welfare rights and entitlements, which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area (CTA), are safeguarded and maintained.
In that regard and in relation to the areas under my remit, the key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance (which includes pensions) and social assistance (means tested schemes linked to residency rights) and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.
As with all EU Member States, Ireland and the UK are part of a system of social security coordination that sets down common rules to protect the social security rights of people moving within Europe. These rules are provided for in very detailed Regulations [883/2004 and 987/2009]. They do not replace national systems with a single European one but, rather, provide a bridge between national systems to ensure social security protection for people when moving within Europe – that is, the current EU28, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This coordination prevents, for example, a person being left without protection or having double-coverage in a cross-border situation.
The following table details the national legislation to which the EU rules on social security coordination apply and the Irish benefits classified under each heading:
|
Schemes |
Classification of Irish social welfare schemes-benefits |
|
Family Benefits |
Child Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Family Income Supplement, Back to Work Family Dividend, One-Parent Family Payment and Guardian’s Payment [non-contributory] |
|
Unemployment Benefits |
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
|
Old Age and Survivors Benefits |
State Pension [Contributory], Widow/er’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s [Contributory] Pension, Guardian’s Payment [Contributory] |
|
Invalidity Benefits |
Invalidity Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit |
|
Sickness and Maternity Benefits |
Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Carer’s Benefit, Treatment Benefit |
|
Benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases |
Incapacity Supplement, Constant Care Allowance |
|
Applicable Social Security Legislation – posted workers |
For example, liability for social security contributions where a person - Has been posted from Ireland to the UK or vice versa; - Is concurrently employed or self-employed in Ireland and the UK |
The Department is continuing an assessment of the implications of Brexit on these areas on a scheme-by-scheme, client and service provision basis. This is part of ongoing Brexit analysis and scenario planning for input into larger Government deliberative processes and it is considered that all of these areas merit equal prioritisation as they fundamentally relate to the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of our citizens.
