Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2557. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of extra employees to be hired in her Department between now and March 2019 to prepare for a hard Brexit; the specific roles these new employees will take up; the estimated cost of hiring these new employees; the impacts on her Department's expenditure ceilings for 2018 and 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34663/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s contingency planning for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016. Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental co-ordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. On 18 July the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade presented a detailed Memorandum to the Government on Brexit Preparedness and Contingency Planning.
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, was identified as an early priority and is now well advanced. Its focus is on the immediate economic, 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 has provided 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. This is enabling the modelling of potential responses under different scenarios, such as one where a withdrawal agreement, including a transitional arrangement, is concluded and where a Free Trade Agreement is the basis for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
In relation to the areas under my remit, the key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social insurance (which includes pensions) and social assistance schemes and child benefit between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.
I met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Honourable Esther McVey in April. 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.
My Department is continuing its assessment of the implications of Brexit on these areas on a scheme-by-scheme and client basis. Any staffing requirements will be dealt with as they arise but I expect that any requirements can be accommodated within the Department's existing cadre of staff.
