Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 November 2020
148. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether Brexit will have a positive impact on any policy area or sector under the remit of her Department; and if the details of same will be provided. [37182/20]
View answerIreland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it.
From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership. However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. Strong and vibrant connections are vital with our closest neighbour and trading partner. Both Ireland and the UK remain co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and are committed to the ongoing maintenance of the Common Travel Area and its associated rights and privileges.
The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson at their meeting in Belfast on 13 August 2020 have already discussed the importance of nurturing and developing the bilateral relationship in a structured way in the context where the UK has left the EU.
While we will work with our UK colleagues on strengthening this relationship, it is also clear that Brexit, in any form, will have significant impacts in Ireland. The Department of Finance has projected over the medium-term the level of GDP would be around 2% – 3.25 % lower relative to a hypothetical status quo scenario, with most of the impact in the first year or so.
In so far as the justice sector is concerned, it is clearly important that we maintain the closest possible cooperation in the field of criminal justice, and that there are efficient mechanisms to deal with cross-border civil and family law matters. We do not envisage any diminution in the joint commitment to security and police operational cooperation between the UK and Ireland. Our respective agencies work closely together and that will continue.
The Government has been planning for Brexit since before the UK referendum to ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are as ready as possible for all possible scenarios. On 9 September, the Government published its Brexit Readiness Action Plan, which details the actions Government will take and the actions citizens and businesses should take to prepare for the end of the transition period. This work will continue in the weeks ahead.
