UK Referendum on EU Membership

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2016

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Ceisteanna (51)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

51. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline his plans to deploy further resources, including monetary and staffing resources, to his Department given the United Kingdom referendum result and that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union affects almost every unit within his Department; the need to protect and sustain trade, business, tourism and investment within the island of Ireland; the need to continue to advance peace and social and economic progress in Northern Ireland and the need to support the Irish community in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19461/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Over the past few months the Government has prepared a contingency framework in the event that the UK voted to leave the European Union. A summary of this framework document was published on Friday 24 June after the result of the Referendum was announced. My Department, in partnership with the Department of the Taoiseach, will be central to this work and the Deputy has correctly identified some key priorities within our areas of responsibility.

This cross-Government Contingency Framework indicates that there will be resource implications both centrally and for line Departments and work is currently underway to identify and cost the additional requirements to ensure that capabilities and resources are put in place to manage the complex process of a UK exit from the EU.

Within my Department, lead responsibility for the UK-EU relationship lies with the British Irish Relations Unit of the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division. This Unit works very closely with colleagues in the wider IUKA Division, especially those colleagues focused on Northern Ireland, with colleagues elsewhere in the Department, and in the Department of the Taoiseach. An internal Departmental group on the UK-EU relationship was established in the months preceding the referendum, comprising officials across all of the Department’s divisions and units.

In addition, many of my Department’s offices, beyond our HQ in Dublin, are also focused on the UK-EU relationship, in particular the Embassy of Ireland in London, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh, our offices in Belfast and Armagh and the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. Missions across the EU and further afield are all working on this issue, and will continue to do so throughout the negotiations period.

I would also add that a number of diplomatic officers of the Department are seconded to the European Union Division in the Department of the Taoiseach, while two diplomatic officers are seconded to the International and EU Relations Division of the Department of Finance.