Willie Penrose
Ceist:55. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the work under way in her Department to prepare for a hard Brexit. [26566/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 19 June 2018
Ceisteanna (55)
Freagraí scríofa
Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, is now well advanced. Its focus is on the immediate regulatory and operational challenges which would result from such an outcome. It assumes a trading relationship based on the default WTO rules, but also examines the possible effects on many other areas of concern. This work is therefore providing baseline scenarios for the impact of Brexit across all sectors, which can then be adapted as appropriate in light of developments in the EU-UK negotiations, including in regard to transition arrangements and the future relationship. It also takes account of the planning being undertaken at EU level by the new Commission Preparedness Unit, which is issuing information notes aimed at different business sectors. My key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. The importance of maintaining the Common Travel Area was acknowledged in Prime Minister May’s letter of 29 March 2017 triggering Article 50 of the TEU, the Joint EU/UK Progress report agreed at the European Council on 15th December 2017 and in the protocol to the draft Withdrawal Agreement published by the Commission on 28th February 2018.
I met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Honourable Esther McVey, on Monday 23rd April 2018. I emphasised my objective of ensuring that the reciprocity of civic rights and social welfare rights and entitlements, which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area, are safeguarded and maintained. I am happy that we have a broad agreement to preserve the status quo in that regard.
I have a dedicated team in my Department which is conducting a deep analysis of scenarios on a scheme by scheme basis and contingency planning is ongoing for all outcomes, including a no-deal or worst-case outcome.