Brexit Preparations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2019

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Questions (506)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

506. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1623, 1624, 1625 and 1626 of 6 September 2019, the number of times he has met the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to a no-deal Brexit and contingency planning for this eventuality; and the number of times he has met the Minister for Defence and-or the Minister of State with special responsibility for defence in relation to a no-deal Brexit and contingency planning for this eventuality; the number of times he or his officials have met representatives from the Department of Justice and Equality in relation to planning for a no-deal Brexit; and the number of times he or his officials have met representatives from the Department of Defence in relation to a no-deal Brexit. [39493/19]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As previously noted, as a Minister of Government, I meet regularly with my cabinet colleagues including those Ministers mentioned on the topic of Brexit. Contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit has been considered by Cabinet on many occasions since 2016, and is now discussed on a weekly basis. 

At Official level, detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is being taken forward on a whole of Government basis, across all Government Departments and Agencies, co-ordinated mainly by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in close collaboration with the Department of the Taoiseach.  Officials from my Department together with officials from the Department of Justice and Equality and from the Department of Defence and a range of other Departments and Offices work together in a number of such interdepartmental fora focused on Brexit preparedness. This detailed preparedness work includes all relevant transport and tourism contingency actions arising from Brexit.