Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions No. 8 to 13, inclusive, together.

I will be meeting the Maltese Prime Minister shortly, primarily to discuss Malta's upcoming EU Presidency. Brexit will undoubtedly be a significant element of those discussions. I will attend the next meeting of the European Council on 15 December and 16 December. While I do not have any formal bilateral meetings scheduled in the margins of that meeting, I expect there will be a discussion among the 27 remaining member states on that occasion. I will also take the opportunity to discuss the situation informally with colleagues. I do not have other firm plans to meet foreign leaders before Christmas 2016.

An assistant secretary has recently been assigned to the international, EU and Northern Ireland division of my Department. It has responsibility for Brexit matters and the resources of the division are being kept under review. The Cabinet committee on Brexit has met three times to date, on 8 September, on 19 October and on 7 November, for in-depth discussion of the issues arising from the UK decision to leave the European Union. The Cabinet committee is scheduled to meet again on 24 November.

The committee will oversee the overall Government response, including both the economic impact and the negotiations at EU level, and with the Administrations in London and Belfast. The Cabinet committee will continue to meet on a regular basis to deal with Brexit-related issues. Brexit has also been a matter of regular and detailed consideration by the Government at Cabinet level for some time, both in advance of the UK EU referendum and since.

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