Seán Sherlock
Ceist:64. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with his British counterpart since the British election was held. [29877/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 June 2017
Ceisteanna (64)
Freagraí scríofa
Given that the UK general election only took place on June 8th last, the opportunities for engagement have been relatively limited in that very short timeframe. The responsibilities of my Department align with responsibilities across three separate ministries in the UK. Mr. Greg Clarke was reappointed as Secretary for Sate for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Mr. Michael Gove is the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Ms. Karen Bradley has been reappointed Secretary for State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Since the formation of the new UK Government, I met with Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, on Monday 19th June, at the Environment Council in Luxembourg. This is the latest in a number of bilateral meetings I have had with my UK counterparts.
Earlier this year, in February I attended two EU Council meetings, the Energy Council and the Environment Council. I used this opportunity to hold bilateral discussions on the potential impacts of Brexit on the Irish and European energy sectors with the UK Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Energy, Mr Jesse Norman. I also held discussions with Simon Hamilton, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive, on the margins of the North South Ministerial Council in September last.
My officials also have regular engagement, and are in ongoing contact with their UK counterparts. They meet at EU Councils and working groups and also at business meetings in Dublin and London. Officials from my Department have discussed the potential impacts of Brexit on the Irish energy sector with their EU and UK counterparts. This includes meetings with the European Commission task force for Brexit, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and officials from the UK's Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Exiting the European Union.