Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Cody and thank him and all his team for the work they do. There is only one game in town today. The news broke as we came in here this morning that Dominic Raab had resigned from the UK Cabinet, and by the time we were coming down the stairs the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, had followed him out the door. These resignations have sent reverberations across the political world, especially in Europe. The reality is that Theresa May probably expected someone to go overboard but, obviously, her Brexit Secretary is a significant loss. To lose one Brexit Secretary is unfortunate but she has lost two. We could be calling on Oscar Wilde to pen Mrs. May's obituary by the end of the day.

It brings the reality of a hard crash into sharper focus. While one would not want to talk it up, it must be discussed.

I remember on budget day this year, as the officials from the Department of Finance filed into the Chamber and sat to the right of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, in the area reserved for them, Mr. Cody was in their midst. In his Budget Statement, the Minister made fleeting reference to the Revenue Commissioners and the potential Border posts, but it was our finance spokesperson, Deputy Michael McGrath, who in his speech pressed the Minister on this and on the Government's plans to hire just 200 Brexit customs officials by the deadline next spring, even though it was reported in the press that Revenue estimated an extra 600 members of staff were needed for the transition period and the future EU-UK trade deal. Will Mr. Cody confirm that just 200 officials will be trained and in place by 29 March next year? Does Revenue need the 600 officials, as reported in the media on the day of the budget? Was the contingency plan in the safe in Revenue headquarters adjusted down this morning before Mr. Cody came in here?