Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1668. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in her Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37986/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1669. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff deployed full-time in her Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1684. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38688/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1685. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38704/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1686. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit, including threats and their prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1687. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the scenario planning that has been conducted by her Department for Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38736/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1688. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38752/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1689. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38768/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1690. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funds that have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38800/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1691. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vacancies in her Department for Brexit related roles; the expected date for these rolls to be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38816/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1692. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38832/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1693. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the membership and role of all Brexit-related stakeholder engagement groups working with her Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38848/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1694. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Brexit-related research currently being undertaken by her Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38880/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1668, 1669, and 1684 to 1694, inclusive, together.
The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ Approach” published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a coordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.
Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.
The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.
As set out in a comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.
Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:
- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising; and
- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectoral policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.
With regards to my own Department, in January of this year, I hosted a sectoral dialogue with children, young people and key stakeholders in Croke Park at which the views of all interested parties were captured. Since then, the Advisory Council to Better Outcomes Brighter Futures; the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020 has considered the report of the event and work is ongoing in relation to the more detailed implications of Brexit. Furthermore, matters in relation to Brexit were discussed by over 100 children and young people in April of this year as part of the annual regional Comhairle na nÓg Networking events. This has enabled my Department to table those issues which may impact on children and young people, post-Brexit, and indeed identify those issues which resonate most strongly with our youngest citizens.
However, it must be stated that such matters are subsets of much larger items which will be considered, in the main, in conjunction with colleagues in the Departments of Finance, Justice and Equality, Education and Health as part of the wider negotiating process. Accordingly, given the limited impact of Brexit on my Department, there is not the requirement to resource a dedicated Brexit Unit. However, while a dedicated unit is not needed, my Department continues to engage with all relevant structures and communication channels – coordinated by the Department of An Taoiseach.
