The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is an independent body tasked with advising the Government on the current and future skills needs of the Irish economy, as well as any other issues that impact on the national potential for enterprise and employment growth.
I welcome the recent EGFSN report on "Addressing the Skills Needs Arising from the Potential Trade Implications of Brexit" as an important contribution to the evidence base on Brexit and the Government's wider contingency planning.
My Department is now formally engaging with the responsible bodies identified in the report to action and formally progress its recommendations. The timelines for implementation are being guided by the advice offered by the EGFSN. This is complementing the work the Government is already undertaking to ensure the enterprise base can respond to Brexit through enhancing its capacity to compete, innovate and trade.
On the customs awareness and higher level customs clearance training and advice currently in place, I refer the Deputy to the details of this provision contained in the EGFSN report.
