Lisa Chambers
Ceist:12. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of his Department’s preparations for Brexit. [15413/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 March 2017
Ceisteanna (12, 23)
Brendan Ryan
Ceist:23. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the negotiations or planning that is taking place between his Department and other Departments in preparation for Brexit; his views on whether the Defence Forces would be involved in controlling a hard border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15524/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (14 píosaí cainte)
In light of the fact that Prime Minister Theresa May initiated Brexit today, my question concerns the status of the Department's preparations for Brexit. The time is over for the Minister of State to say he is waiting to see whether Brexit is initiated. It has started. What is the Minister of State going to do about it?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 23 together.
The outcome of the vote of 23 June 2016 in the UK will have implications across all aspects of the business of the European Union. While the vote does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement within the EU in the Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, it is expected that Brexit will have an impact on future developments in the defence sphere. The structures put in place in the Department of Defence to address the potential challenges arising from Brexit include the assignment of responsibility to a senior official in respect of Brexit-related matters. The senior official is leading the Department’s input to deliberations within the framework established across Government and is supported in their role by a number of branches in the Department. The senior official represents the Department on the interdepartmental group on EU-UK affairs, which is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and which is engaged with the identification of key strategic, operational and policy issues arising from Brexit. In addition, the management board is acting as a clearing house for Brexit and maintains oversight on an ongoing basis. The UK triggered Article 50 this morning, as the Deputies know, and a meeting of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to take place on 29 April to discuss the UK withdrawal. It is expected that formal negotiations will commence in May or June once the remaining 27 member states reach consensus on the EU's negotiating position. The negotiations themselves can then be expected to take at least two years to complete and all potential consequences in the defence sphere, arising during the negotiations, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration by my Department throughout this process. As the Deputies will also be aware, the Government has adopted a contingency framework to deal with all issues arising in respect of the UK vote to leave the EU. Accordingly, any issues arising, including those within the defence area, whether bilateral or in respect of developments in the CSDP, or regarding our wider international multilateral defence engagements, will be also addressed within that framework.
While the nature of the Border will be decided during the course of the negotiations, it is the Government’s stated goal to try to ensure that the current on-island Border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible.
I wish to reassure the House that my Department will be prepared to address any potential issues arising in the defence area on foot of Brexit and the negotiations process to shortly get under way.
The appointment of a senior Department official is not sufficient to plan adequately for Brexit and all of the aspects that will affect the Defence Forces. What planning has the Minister of State conducted in advance of Brexit? Specifically, what areas has he looked at in terms of a hard border, our fishing stocks, the Irish Sea and the extra capabilities we are likely to need in our Defence Forces? Can the Minister of State highlight what contingency planning he has conducted, with whom and with what agencies? Have the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces engaged with Northern Ireland forces, customs and An Garda Síochána? Have operational plans been drafted to provide guidance and preparation timelines for operational units? What is the extent of the Department's preparations? How many staff have been assigned to deal with this matter besides the senior official the Minister of State has appointed? Does the Minister of State believe that the Defence Forces are adequately structured, staffed and located to address the 499 km hard-Border security scenario with which we may be presented?
We should not be reactionary. Judging by the Minister of State's comment that all aspects affecting our Defence Forces will remain the subject of ongoing consideration throughout the two-year negotiation process, it appears that he is going to be reactionary at every turn. We should be preparing in advance and anticipating what might come down the line.
I reassure the Deputy that my Department will not be reactionary in any way. The Secretary General and I appointed an assistant secretary to lead the preparations for Brexit within my Department. A range of other staff in different sections of the Department are involved in this. It is not just one person. I have regular management advisory council, MAC, meetings with the assistant secretary and receive an update specifically on areas of Brexit. I am not going to get into what will happen post negotiations. Negotiations will begin. The Taoiseach, his Department and officials are leading the negotiations. We are feeding into that and will continue to do so. Now that Article 50 has been triggered, every Department will have more of a role to play in the negotiations.
The Minister of State has not really answered any of my questions. He tells me that it is not just one person but has not detailed how many persons are involved, their roles, where they are working or what they are doing. He did not answer my question as to what agencies the Department or Defence Forces have consulted. Have they engaged, for example, with the Northern Ireland forces, customs or An Garda Síochána?
Some 45% of Dublin unit regimental duties are now being conducted by troops from the 28 and 27 battalions. Troops from across the country are travelling up from places such as Finner on a regular basis to conduct duties in Army barracks here in Dublin. Are the Defence Forces adequately staffed to provide for all operational contingencies in the context of Brexit? The Minister of State has not answered that question, although I have asked it many times. Does the Minister of State believe the Defence Forces share his view that we are adequately equipped? In terms of Air Corps assets, what plans are there for reinforcement of operational units in the Border areas? Is the Minister of State planning any refuelling or landing facilities along the Border for operational duties in the context of a hard border?
Once the negotiations start-----
That is today.
I have not seen the correspondence or the argument that Theresa May has set out in her Brexit negotiations.
The Minister of State does not need that information to plan ahead.
It would be totally unwise if I were to instruct members of the Permanent Defence Force to get ready to guard the Border. That would be totally unacceptable.
I am not suggesting that.
The Taoiseach has stressed on numerous occasions that he does not want to go back to the days when members of the Defence forces or the Garda Síochána were on the Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. I am not going to get into that space either.
What the Minister of State wants and what could happen are two different things.
The Deputy spoke about marine patrols. These are a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The Naval Service has a service level agreement with the latter in the context of the boarding of ships and matters of that nature. That activity will continue.
The Department is very well prepared for Brexit negotiations, through a senior official and with a range of other people in different areas involved.
Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.