The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not commissioned or paid for any studies or assessments regarding Brexit. Of course, in its cross-departmental co-ordination role the Department is in close touch with all Departments, including those which have commissioned such work.
The Government’s contingency planning continues to be firmly grounded in the extensive work and outreach that has already been undertaken by individual Departments and agencies, as well as by stakeholder organisations, academics and others. Much of this is in the public domain and a number of further important studies are underway with a view to publication in the coming weeks and months.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has lead responsibility for planning for, preparing positions on, and following the EU-UK negotiations. This requires research on and analysis of very many legal, institutional, and political issues, the eventual outcome of negotiations on which will of course be decisive in determining the shape and effects of Brexit. The Department is also analysing the possible impact of Brexit on policy areas within its remit, notably the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the EU’s policy on international development.
All of this work is being done by the officials of the Department at home and in Missions.
The Department also works closely with the European Commission and European Parliament Offices here in Dublin and with civil society organisations including the Institute for International and European Affairs and European Movement Ireland. With funding from this Department, the IIEA is undertaking research on the future shape of the EU and the new strategic alliances that Ireland will need to develop within the EU after Brexit.
