Written Answers Nos. 266-292
266. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the Economic and Social Research Institute's research commissioned in 2017 as part of the new initiatives for achieving gender balance in the Civil Service. [37065/17]
View answerOne of the actions set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan is to improve gender balance at each level by reviewing supports and policies to ensure these are impactful and measurable. This action is particularly important at senior management levels in the Civil Service where women are under-represented. I announced a series of initiatives earlier this year for achieving gender balance in the Civil Service including research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) based on the 2015 Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey.
The ESRI is currently finalising this research report and when finalised it will be published and made available on my Department’s website. At that stage, the Deputy can be provided with a copy of the report.
267. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of women and men, respectively, employed in his Department, in tabular form. [37075/17]
View answer268. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of men and women, respectively, in his Department who hold posts (details supplied). [37086/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
Please find below in table 1, information on the number of women and men employed in my Department, the National Shared Services Office and the Office of Government Procurement. These figures are based on the number of staff in each organisation as of 31st August 2017.
Table 2 provides information on the numbers of men and women employed in my Department, the National Shared Services Office and the Office of Government Procurement who hold the posts referred to by the Deputy. The figures are based on the number of staff employed in each organisation as of 31st August 2017.
Table 1
|
Department |
Female Headcount |
Male Headcount |
Total |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
207 |
190 |
397 |
|
Office of Government Procurement |
84 |
118 |
202 |
|
National Shared Services Office |
440 |
280 |
720 |
Table 2
|
Department of Public Expenditure |
|
|
|
|
Grade/Level |
Female Headcount |
Male Headcount |
Total |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Second Secretary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary/Director |
4 |
4 |
8 |
|
Principal |
14 |
19 |
33 |
|
Assistant Principal |
52 |
53 |
105 |
|
Office of Government Procurement |
|
|
|
|
Grade/Level |
Female Headcount |
Male Headcount |
Total |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Second Secretary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Deputy Secretary/CEO |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary/Director |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Principal |
8 |
6 |
14 |
|
Assistant Principal |
19 |
26 |
45 |
|
National Shared Services Office |
|
|
|
|
Grade/Level |
Female Headcount |
Male Headcount |
Total |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Second Secretary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Deputy Secretary/CEO |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Principal |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Assistant Principal |
20 |
9 |
29 |
269. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the draft flood risk management plans for at risk areas (details supplied) will be approved, implemented and adopted by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37122/17]
View answerThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans. The catchment area referred to by the Deputy is part of one of four study areas under the Eastern CFRAM Study.
The OPW has reviewed the draft Plan for this area including taking account of the submissions received during public and statutory consultation. This Plan was, on 11th August 2017, submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for independent review of the environmental assessments. Once this independent review of all 29 Plans is completed and observations addressed, the final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements for approval of the Plans.
I aim by the end of this year to seek approval from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans developed by the national CFRAM Programme. These Plans will inform Government’s prioritised approach to further develop over 100 major flood defence schemes and investment to those that deliver feasible protection against significant floods risks. The Plans will then be forwarded to the Local Authorities that may adopt the Plans for their respective areas.
270. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost his Department incurred in each of the past five years due to debit and credit card payment services and banking fees; the financial institutions to which the payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37228/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, the following table outlines the cost of bank charges (including for credit cards) in each of the past five years:
|
Institution |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Bank of Ireland, VISA |
€186 |
€186 |
€186 |
€294 |
€342 |
|
Danske Bank |
€167 |
€354 |
€460 |
€446 |
€427 |
|
FEXCO |
€11 |
||||
|
Total |
€353 |
€540 |
€657 |
€740 |
€769 |
271. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has conducted an up to date assessment of the impact that the uncertainty regarding Brexit will have on the PEACE funds which is important in Border areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37653/17]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I fully appreciate the uncertainty that Brexit has caused, not just for the PEACE programme but also for INTERREG. Over the last quarter of a century the two programmes have made an enormous contribution to cross-Border cooperation, and they remain important drivers of regional development in a cross-Border context. Last December I travelled to Derry where, along with the then Northern Ireland Finance Minister, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, I had the opportunity to see the impact that the Programmes are having on the ground.
Even before that, however, I was pleased to be able to announce that agreement had been reached between my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland on a safeguard clause for funding agreements with programme beneficiaries. The objective of the agreement is to Brexit-proof Letters of Offer to the greatest extent possible and to give programme beneficiaries assurance as to the legal and financial commitments they are entering into, so they can plan for the future with confidence.
Now that that first objective has been achieved, my medium term objective is to ensure the successful implementation of the current programmes out to 2020, through a period during which the UK is expected to leave the EU. My longer term objective is secure agreement for successor programmes post-2020. Work is under way in my Department to address these medium and long term objectives.
272. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the acquisition of a building (details supplied); the timeframe for the conclusion of proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37836/17]
View answerThe OPW and the CSSO continue to progress the acquisition of the site in question and expect the process to reach a conclusion shortly.
In view of the Deputy’s repeated interest and questioning on the matter, I can advise that any change in circumstances could be made available to her or she may wish to contact my Office directly.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the development of legislation for the regulation of data sharing between public bodies and for applicable safeguards and conditions regarding the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37884/17]
View answer298. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the data-sharing and governance Bill; if this Bill is planned to underpin the sharing of Public Sector Information, PSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39004/17]
View answer299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the proposed data-sharing and governance Bill, the information it is envisioned this Bill will allow An Garda Síochána to request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39005/17]
View answer300. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an assurance can be given in respect of the security and confidentially of the data held on the public services card and other personal information shared and accessed by Departments and their agencies; the legal sanctions which apply to breaches or misuse of this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39009/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 298 to 300, inclusive, together.
On 7th July 2015, the Government approved the drafting of the Data-Sharing and Governance Bill. The Government’s objective in bringing forward the General Scheme was to promote data sharing between public bodies for legitimate and clearly specified purposes and to improve transparency for individual rights by setting new governance standards for sharing of data between public bodies.
The Bill aims to facilitate an “ask-once, use-many” times principle, that is, a person will only be asked for their information once, but the information can be shared within the public service for the provision of other services. The intention is to significantly reduce the administrative burden on citizens and businesses and allow them to avail of higher-quality, more efficient and seamless public services. Data sharing will help Ireland align very closely with EU eGovernment and Digital Single Market developments as well as complementing national eGovernment initiatives such as the transformation of our “back office” processes and the development of a Digital Services Gateway.
The Bill takes account of and will help compliance with data protection law and the General Data Protection Regulation which takes effect in May 2018 in that data subject rights under data protection law must be complied with in the sharing of data in terms of consent, proportionality, transparency etc. Significant governance and transparency measures are proposed, including a clear definition of data sharing and the purposes for which data may be shared, governance arrangements which public bodies must comply with before disclosure of information to another public body, and obligations to enter into Data Sharing Agreements and for the publication of such Agreements, and the laying of them before the Houses of the Oireachtas. My colleague Minister O'Donovan proposes to bring proposals to Government shortly to further strengthen the governance and transparency arrangements in the Bill with a view to, inter alia, making it easier for citizens to know who holds their data and how it is being used.
The Bill concluded pre-legislative scrutiny in the Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2017. My officials are currently considering the report in the context of the drafting of the Bill and are working closely with the Office of the Attorney General. The drafting of the Bill has been substantially progressed since the publication of the General Scheme and I expect the Bill will be published in the Autumn.
Regarding the Public Services Card, the personal data processed as part of the registration and issuance of the card by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is legislated for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. The personal data processed in relation to the card form the basic data that can be used to identify an individual, such as name, date of birth, personal public service number, gender, address and information of any other type is not processed in this context.
The sharing of the data held on the card is also legislated for in the above Act, permitting the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to share this basic personal data for the purposes of authenticating an individual’s identity. The Minister may only share such data for this purpose with bodies that are specifically listed within Schedule 5 of the above Act. Furthermore, the body receiving such data must also have a legal basis for the processing of the data in its own right as per the data protection Acts. Lastly, the data collected and processed as part of the Public Services Card registration and issuance process is controlled by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and as such has and adheres to the responsibilities of a Data Controller as set out in the Data Protection Acts.
As regards sharing of other personal data, under the existing legal framework, data-sharing provisions are included in specific Acts, based on the requirements of a particular Department or body. This legislation and data protection legislation must be complied with to allow such data sharing to occur.
Sanctions for misuse of data will depend on the particular circumstances but can be applied at organisational level or within Departments at personal level as appropriate.
Finally, Deputy Shortall asked what information is envisioned that An Garda Síochána might request under this Bill. The Deputy may be concerned about data processing for the purpose of prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crime. I wish to assure the Deputy that no specific provisions are provided in the Bill relating to information that An Garda Síochána might request. The forthcoming Data Protection Bill will transpose Directive (EU) 2016/680 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities, including the Gardaí, for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties into national law. That Bill will, inter alia, regulate the sharing of personal data between competent authorities for those purposes.
274. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a grade in the Civil Service for prison clerical officers or is such a post specific to the Prison Service; if the prison clerical officers are employed in line with general Civil Service clerical officers in view of the fact that Civil Service clerical officers receive overtime, flexi-time, term time and so on, none of which is available to prison clerical officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37945/17]
View answerThere is a grade for Prison Service Clerical Officers in the Prison Service. The purpose of this grade is to carry out the administrative and support duties necessary for a modern and efficient Prison Service. The introduction of the grade was consistent with legislation, regulations and Codes of Practice governing Civil Service recruitment. The granting of particular working arrangements such as overtime, flexitime etc. is at the discretion of civil service bodies, is determined by organisational requirements and subject to local management.
275. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans the OPW has to prevent further flooding in Tullig Mór and Tullig Beg, Ballinhassig, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37951/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is preparing a preliminary report to outline a preferred flood relief option and initial cost and benefit analysis for Ballinhassig.
An information meeting was held with residents of Ballinhassig, Local Representatives and Cork County Council on the 16th of December 2016 at which it was highlighted that, given the particular soil characteristics in the area, there was a need to conduct a geotechnical investigation of the site and a geotechnical assessment regarding the seepage characteristics of the soil underlying the properties in Tullybeg, Ballinhassig.
The progression of the initial study and the cost of the project are dependent of the results of the geotechnical investigation. The OPW has recently received the preliminary results from these investigations and hopes to have the final report completed before the end of 2017. Following the completion of the report, the OPW will meet with the landowners and discuss the findings with a view to establishing a possible solution that can be progressed to a full feasibility study.
276. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37997/17]
View answer277. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff deployed full-time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.
The head of my Department’s Brexit/EU/North South Unit is responsible for co-ordinating Brexit issues in the Department. The Principal-led Unit oversees Brexit work across the Department and acts as the contact point with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other Government Departments. It is represented on the Brexit Senior Officials' Group and related groups, and supports me in my work on Brexit. The Unit currently comprises six staff.
Brexit issues are also addressed by staff in relevant areas across the Department. The cost of the Brexit/EU/North South Unit is met from within the Department’s existing budget and is kept under review.
278. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38029/17]
View answerAssuming that the question relates to construction Price inflation, the tenders received by OPW reflect the trends as indicated in the Society of Chartered Surveyors Tender Price Index. This is “an independent assessment of construction tender prices in Ireland based on actual tender returns for non-residential projects". The Index is a measure of average price increases across differing project types and locations.
Increases over the past 18 months are:
Year % Increase in Price
|
2016 |
5.92% |
The increase for the first half of 2017 is 3%. This is the latest figure available.
279. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has received a request for additional funding for a project (details supplied) in Cork city in addition to the €12 million already committed by the Government; the process in order to assess such funding requests; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38115/17]
View answerThe Cork Event Centre project was included in the Exchequer Stimulus package announced in Budget 2014. The project is being part-funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery licence transaction with an Exchequer grant of €12m being provided through the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Overall responsibility for the management and delivery of the project lies with Cork City Council, with Exchequer grant funding being administered through the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. As such, it is a matter for that Department to further assess the proposed additional project costs and to then seek this Department's approval for any additional funding as considered necessary. My Department has not received any requests for additional funding for the project from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I understand that Department is currently discussing the increased costs of the project with Cork City Council.
280. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to facilitate the growing number of households that cannot get house insurance on their homes and properties in flood risk areas in view of difficulties being experienced by home owners throughout the State following flooding in recent years. [38121/17]
View answerWhile the Minister for Finance has overall responsibility for the Government’s flood insurance policy, to assist insurance companies assess the risk and take into account the protection provided by completed OPW flood defence schemes, the OPW has a Memorandum of Understanding with Insurance Ireland, the representative body of the insurance industry. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on these completed schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. Insurance Ireland members have committed to take into account all information provided by OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these protected areas. To date OPW has provided details to Insurance Ireland on 17 completed schemes nationally and Insurance Ireland surveys its members to ascertain the extent to which flood insurance cover is available in these areas. The results of the most recent survey indicated that 83% of property insurance policies in these areas include cover against flood risk.
In line with Action No. 270 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, the OPW and the Department of Finance are engaging with Insurance Ireland on a quarterly basis. In addition, the OPW and Insurance Ireland have established a sub group to explore the legal, technical and administrative arrangements that may allow for the further sharing of data on flood insurance cover for those 300 areas where the OPW has mapped the flood risk through the CFRAM Programme.
In light of my own experience, and in recognition of the importance of this issue, I met with members of Insurance Ireland last Friday, September 8th, along with Minister D’Arcy and our officials to impress upon all concerned parties the seriousness of this issue. I am satisfied that my officials will continue to work with Insurance Ireland on this matter to ensure that the insurance industry has the required knowledge with regard to OPW flood defence schemes to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability of insurance against the risk of flooding
The decision on whether to offer insurance, the levels of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis.
The insurance industry has its own flood modelling tools for assessing the level of risk to individual properties and it has highlighted to the OPW that it does not use the OPW Flood Maps to inform its flood modelling.
Any person with an insurance-related query or complaint can contact Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service (01 676 1914 or iis@insuranceireland.eu). In addition, the Financial Services Ombudsman (1890 88 20 90) deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers.
281. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he or bodies and agencies under the remit of his Department plan to make services or payments dependent on the mandatory use and production of the public services card; if so, the services and payments which will now be dependent on the mandatory use of the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38153/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, I can confirm that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis have plans to make services or payments dependent on the mandatory use and production of the Public Services Card.
The Public Services Card offers a standard way of identifying customers that will reduce the administrative burden both on the service providers and on the customers accessing the services. It is a matter for each Department to decide if and how the Public Services Card will be utilised for individual services. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and bodies under its aegis have no public services that require proof of personal identity.
The recently published eGovernment Strategy 2017-2020 lists a number of public services for which MyGovID/Public Services Card will be required in the future.
282. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason community employment scheme supervisors are required to retire at 66 years of age in view of the fact the State advises that it does not have a role as an employer in this sector and employees are not public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38226/17]
View answerAs the Deputy points out, the employees concerned are not public servants. Questions relating to the Community Employment scheme and the State pension age should be addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
283. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress his Department has made in securing additional funds for infrastructure investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38621/17]
View answer284. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the implementation of the capital plan in 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38622/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government committed to additional capital investment over the period of the Capital Plan to 2021, to be allocated on the basis of the outcome of the review of the Capital Plan. As set out in the Summer Economic Statement 2017, Government will invest a further €4.1 billion in key infrastructure supporting economic and social progress. This is in addition to the extra €2.2 billion in Exchequer funding already allocated to housing under Rebuilding Ireland.
The publication of the report of the review of the Capital Plan is a key milestone in terms of the Government's commitment to increase public capital investment and to maintain and enhance Ireland's public capital stock. The report contains a comprehensive update on public capital investment priorities based on detailed research by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, engagement with all Departments and a public consultation. The review sets out the detailed analysis and evidence which will help inform decisions by Government, in the context of Budget 2018, on the allocation of the additional resources now available for increased public investment.
The report also sets the context for the preparation of a new 10 year National Investment Plan, which will be integrated with, and support the implementation of, the new National Planning Framework.
285. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to expedite the unwinding of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest, FEMPI; the progress he has made in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38623/17]
View answerThe Government concluded negotiations with the unions and associations representing public servants on the 8th of June this year, and the Workplace Relations Commission issued a set of proposals entitled the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. This draft Agreement provides for the further phased unwinding of the FEMPI measures over a number of years.
The current position is that the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will vote on the ratification of the Agreement on Monday. If the Agreement is ratified, the Government will shortly thereafter bring forward legislation to implement the relevant pay and pensions provisions.
286. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the development of sectoral response plans to Brexit; the publication date for these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38699/17]
View answer287. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [38715/17]
View answer288. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [38731/17]
View answer289. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38747/17]
View answer290. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38763/17]
View answer291. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38779/17]
View answer292. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds that have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38811/17]
View answer294. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38843/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 to 292, inclusive, and 294 together.
Last May the Government published a document setting out in detail its approach and the structures it had put in place to ensure a strategic and whole-of-Government response to Brexit. 'Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’s Approach' identifies key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations as well as the wider domestic response.
Within my Department this approach is reflected in the Department's Statement of Strategy for 2016-2019. The challenges posed by Brexit are kept under constant review and a dedicated Brexit/EU/North South Unit is responsible for co-ordinating the response to Brexit across the Department.
Reformed Cabinet Committee structures have now been put in place with a new Cabinet Committee devoted to EU Affairs, including Brexit, of which I am a member. My Department participates fully in the official level structures that support the work of the Cabinet Committee.
The significance of the risk arising from Brexit is reflected in the Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017 and also in my Department's own risk register. In particular, the National Risk Assessment identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.
The Government is also working to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations.
Across Government, work is continuing on Ireland’s wider response to both the challenges and the opportunities posed by Brexit. This builds on ongoing cross-Government research and analysis, as well as stakeholder consultations.
Policy decisions in support of the Government's approach to Brexit 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.
