Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
674. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the development of sectoral response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38698/17]
View answer675. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [38714/17]
View answer676. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including threats and their prioritisation [38730/17]
View answer677. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38746/17]
View answer678. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38762/17]
View answer679. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38778/17]
View answer680. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38810/17]
View answer682. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38842/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 674 to 680, inclusive, and 682 together.
The International Policy Division within my Department has been assigned responsibility for co-ordinating the Department's work as it relates to matters concerning UK withdrawal from the EU. The Division is headed-up by an Assistant Secretary and comprises a team in Dublin and a team based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels, currently consisting of thirteen officers in total. This figure includes an additional post to the Permanent Representation to support the Brussels based aspects of the forthcoming negotiations which was filled in July 2017, and an additional post in the Dublin team filled last month. Complementing this, six senior officers from each of the key areas in the Department (who are in turn supported by relevant staff) have been selected to make up a cross-divisional working group to focus on the key negotiating issues. In addition, the senior management team of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) have a particular focus in relation to the movement of people within the Common Travel Area and other immigration-related matters relevant to Brexit.
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 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.
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.
In so far as the issues relevant to my Department are concerned, continued co-operation with the UK on criminal and civil justice matters, and in the maintenance of the Common Travel Area are key priorities. The significance of the Common Travel Area and the benefits it confers across Irish society are well understood. At a sectoral level, it is also clearly important that we maintain the closest possible co-operation in the field of criminal justice, and that there are efficient mechanisms to deal with cross-Border civil, commercial and family law matters, so that members of the public and businesses can have legal certainty and protection in cross Border disputes. Our analysis of these important issues is ongoing.
We do not envisage any diminution in the joint commitment to security and police operational co-operation between the UK and Ireland. Our respective agencies work closely together and that will continue.
