Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
185. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance if a Brexit sub-committee has been established in his Department; if so, when the sub-committee was convened; the number of times the sub-committee has met; the number of members on the sub-committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36204/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Finance has been assessing and preparing for the impact of Brexit since well before the referendum on 23 June 2016. This includes publication, under the joint Department of Finance/ESRI research programme, of two reports on the potential economic impacts of Brexit, in November 2015 and November 2016.
Brexit issues are discussed as the principal standing item by the EU Strategy Committee (a subcommittee of the Department's Executive Board). This Committee meets monthly and is chaired at Assistant Secretary level. It brings together a number of Divisions across the Department to develop policy advice to the Minister on EU issues of a strategic nature, including Brexit. These Divisions are Economic Division, Tax Division, EU and International Division, and the Banking and Financial Services Divisions which are represented on the committee at Assistant Secretary level.
In addition, a new Brexit Unit within the EU and International Division was established in July 2016 to manage and coordinate the Department's work in the area of Brexit and to act as a key liaison point with the Department of the Taoiseach, in particular. In addition, the Department of Finance staffing complement in the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels has been strengthened.
