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Brexit Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2018

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Questions (74)

Lisa Chambers

Question:

74. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of running the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready road shows; the breakdown of costs that are taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42600/18]

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Written answers

Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017 I have overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness and contingency planning across Government.

As part of these efforts, the Government is organising “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events around Ireland to inform and advise about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and resources that the Government has put in place.

These events bring together a dozen Agencies and their parent Departments – the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - under one roof to inform and advise both citizens and businesses about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and resources the Government has put in place.

Two Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop events have so far taken place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork on 5 October and in NUI Galway on 12 October. Having participated in both, I am pleased to confirm that the Cork event attracted a strong attendance of over 400 people. The number of attendees in Galway were somewhat affected by the threat of adverse weather conditions on the day but were still close to 200. Both events also attracted significant domestic and international (in particular UK) media coverage which afforded an opportunity to highlight Ireland’s overall approach and specific concerns in relation to Brexit.

Costs that have arisen directly so far in connection with the Cork and Galway workshop events and for which invoices/confirmed costings have been received are as follows:

Item

Totals

Venue Hire & Related

€5,069.94

Event Staging / Audio-Visual Equipment (OPW)

€35,420.93

Event Materials / Signage

€4047.99

Badging / Registration

€702.33

Catering

€1,387.50

Photography

€522.75

Totals

€47,151.44

Two further Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop events will take place in Monaghan and Dublin on 19 and 25 October respectively. I am confident that these will likewise be in high demand and, as occurred in Cork and Galway, that attendees will gain many useful insights and practical advice on steps which they and their businesses can take to help prepare for the impact of Brexit. Other Brexit preparedness-related public information activities and events continue to be organised by State Agencies and Departments across Ireland and relevant details on these can be found at the new dedicated Brexit events page on the dfa.ie/brexit website.

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