As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Minister Coveney, has responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with his colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit.
Within my own Department, a Working Group of senior officials was established to manage the Department's response and to carry out a risk analysis of the UK's departure, taking into account engagement with relevant justice sector agencies and other stakeholders. This work is ongoing and evolving and involves justice staff from different regions and offices, as appropriate.
Representatives from my Department regularly attend meetings, including within the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the lead Department on Brexit. This includes attendance at the Common Travel Area Forum, The Island of Ireland Working Group and the Brexit Coordinators network. The Inter-Departmental Group on the European Union and Brexit is a forum to update Department officials on the work being done at a cross-department level by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and by the various Departments, including mine. This Group has a particular responsibility in terms of the co-ordination of contingency planning.
Planning to date with regard to the Department of Justice and Equality has focussed on how the Withdrawal Agreement would work in practice, contingency planning and the future relationship. Police co-operation is one aspect of these considerations. As you are aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel. Garda management keep the distribution of resources under active review in line with operational and security demands, including any possible policing requirements post Brexit. I am advised that An Garda Síochána is aware of the ongoing complex negotiations regarding Brexit and is committed to ensuring the organisation is prepared for all possible outcomes, and any possible policing implications and challenges arising. A high level team composed of managers from across the organisation has been established by the Commissioner and scoping exercises in anticipation of Brexit have been conducted. My Department is engaged on an ongoing basis with An Garda Síochána as part of the deep and detailed work being undertaken right across Government and the public sector in response to the UK decision to leave the EU. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána is represented at a senior level in the ongoing discussions between the Department of Justice & Equality and the UK Home Office in relation to the operation of the Common Travel Area.
