Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is simply not the case. I am aware of the headline the Deputy refers to, but I ask that he bears in mind it was in the context of a central case scenario which was a withdrawal agreement, a transitional arrangement and Brexit happening in an orderly way by the end of 2020. This scenario would have required rolling recruitment of staff up to that period in time. The Deputy is trying to make the case that because the envisaged number of staff for the 2020 deadline has not been reached by today - when there is a possibility of a crash-out - that in some way we are not prepared. I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that Ireland is the most Brexit-prepared member state. There are enough challenges and uncertainty out there without fomenting uncertainty in this interaction. We will be ready in the most financially efficient way. Obviously there will be other people who have responsibilities around recruitment, across the HSE for example, with inspectors and so on in other areas of supervision and regulation to do with food businesses. They will not be recruited in this particular context but it will all be done to make sure we keep business moving and exports getting to marketplaces. The figures the Deputy spoke about were to the date at the end of 2020. The figures I have given to the Deputy are for what we are now planning: staff to be on the ground to deal with the necessary situation, should the UK crash out in the short term. This will increase and ratchet up. I do not think it serves any purpose for the Deputy to try to create uncertainty or doubt where we are ready to deal with what could happen, of which I am in no doubt, if the UK should crash out.