Skip to main content
Normal View

Brexit Preparations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Questions (110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 120, 123, 124, 125)

Gerry Adams

Question:

110. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the most up-to-date contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of a no-deal Brexit; his views on whether Border communities will face specific challenges in the event of such a scenario; the supports which will be provided to Border communities to mitigate the impacts of this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

111. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the most up-to-date contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and his plans in place to ensure that existing cross-Border services and infrastructures are protected on an all-island basis. [42978/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

112. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Border communities will face specific challenges in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the supports which will be provided to Border communities to mitigate the impacts of this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42979/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

113. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has revised contingency plans further to consultation with crisis management specialists to help deal with a no-deal Brexit crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43005/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

114. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the latest contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and his plans in place to ensure that existing cross-Border services and infrastructures are protected on an all-island basis [43006/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

115. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Border communities will face specific challenges in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the supports which will be provided to Border communities to mitigate the impacts of this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43007/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

120. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of plans to support and protect Border communities further to consultation with crisis management specialists to help deal with a no-deal Brexit crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42980/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

123. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has revised contingency plans further to consultation with crisis management specialists to help deal with a no-deal Brexit crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42995/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

124. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the latest contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and his plans to ensure that existing cross-Border services and infrastructures are protected on an all-island basis. [42996/19]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

125. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Border communities will face specific challenges in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the supports which will be provided to Border communities to mitigate the impacts of this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42997/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 to 115, inclusive, 120 and 123 to 125, inclusive, together.

The Government’s detailed and comprehensive work across all sectors on no deal planning is guided by the priorities and actions set out in the Government’s Contingency Action Plan Update. This Update, published on 9 July, takes forward the approach of the Contingency Action Plan published in December 2018, and reflects extensive work on a whole-of-Government basis and at EU level on no deal contingency planning.

Key elements of these preparations include the Brexit Omnibus Act passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law in March 2019. The last four budgets have all contained dedicated measures to get Ireland Brexit ready. Budget 2020 makes more than €1 billion available in the event of a no deal Brexit to help the people and businesses most affected, if and when they need it.

The Government has put in place a range of contingency and mitigation measures across different sectors. The coordination and robustness of these measures continues to be reviewed and tested including through scenario planning, some of which has involved external expertise, and this continues to inform Government’s ongoing preparations and plans.

The Government is acutely conscious of the particular needs and vulnerabilities of the border region in the context of Brexit and particularly in the event of a no deal outcome. Mitigating the potential impact of Brexit, and the importance of avoiding a hard border, for people living in all the border counties is a key priority. The measures provided for in Budget 2020 for a no deal scenario provide for funding to allow for further specific initiatives, targeting the most affected parts of the country – for example the border region – should that prove necessary.

Throughout the Brexit process there has been a strong understanding from our EU partners of the need to address these unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. Ireland and our EU partners are united in our determination to do all we can, deal or no deal, to protect our citizens, our businesses, including those in border counties, and our peace.

On 8 May the Irish and British Governments entered into a Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming our joint commitment to the Common Travel Area, and to maintaining this long-standing reciprocal arrangement under which Irish and British citizens can live, work, study, and access healthcare, social security and public services in each other’s jurisdictions. This strong reassurance that the CTA will continue in all Brexit scenarios is an important one for our citizens, in particular in border areas, and has been a focus of recent Brexit communications.

Cross border bus and rail transport services will continue to operate in the usual way and cross border health services are managed by service level agreements. Even in a no deal Brexit situation, these services and others like them will continue.

Government has put in place a range of measures to support businesses, including those in the border counties, to prepare for Brexit in all scenarios. These measures include financial supports for businesses, and an intensified and individual business-focused outreach and engagement programme by Revenue designed to support and assist businesses in understanding the potential impact of Brexit and how to prepare for and mitigate the risks, including by being prepared for new customs requirements.

Top
Share