Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
819. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if further legislation will be required under the remit of her Department if the UK exits the transition period on 31 December 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11878/20]
View answerAs part of the Government's ongoing Brexit readiness work, a number of Government Departments have indicated the potential need for further legislation to be in force at the end of the transition period.
Based on this analysis, the Government decided, at its meeting of 29 May, to approve the development of a scheme of a new Brexit Omnibus Bill. This work will now be brought forward across the relevant Government Departments and a draft scheme will be brought to Government for approval in due course. While work is now underway with Departments to determine the particular scope of the new Scheme, it is expected that many of its elements will draw to a large extent on legislation prepared in 2019 to address issues arising in the event the UK and EU failed to conclude a Withdrawal Agreement under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
In the case of the areas under my remit, provisions reflecting Parts 11 and 12 of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019 will be required at the end of the transition period. These provisions include technical amendments to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 (as amended) as well as amendments to the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act 1984 to ensure that employees who work and make their social insurance contributions in Ireland will continue to be covered by the insolvency payments scheme if their employer becomes insolvent under the laws of the UK.
The decision to proceed with new legislation will, of course, be subject to the approval of the Government and will need be considered as part of the new Government's legislative agenda.
As the Deputy will be aware, a Convention on Social Security between the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom was signed in February 2019 and completed the required Parliamentary procedures in both countries shortly thereafter. The Convention stands ready to be brought into force as required at the end of the transition period.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
