Work on preparing for Brexit is underway across Government through a range of cross-Departmental coordination structures. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their research, analysis and overall policy input to the Government’s wider response to Brexit.
My Department is contributing to this cross-Departmental planning and preparation for Brexit and to deepening the Government’s analysis and understanding of the consequences of different scenarios.
The Department has specific responsibility for the EU-funded cross-border programmes, PEACE and INTERREG. It has been working with the Managing Authority for the two North South programmes, the Special EU Programmes Body - one of the North South bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement - on the implications of Brexit for the programmes. Research undertaken or commissioned by the SEUPB and the issue of publication of such research is a matter for discussion by my Department with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance, its joint Sponsor Department for the SEUPB.
In parallel, my Department is continuing its own assessment of the implications of Brexit for the continuation of this area of North South cooperation.