Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The appointment of a senior Department official is not sufficient to plan adequately for Brexit and all of the aspects that will affect the Defence Forces. What planning has the Minister of State conducted in advance of Brexit? Specifically, what areas has he looked at in terms of a hard Border, our fishing stocks, the Irish Sea and the extra capabilities we are likely to need in our Defence Forces? Can the Minister of State highlight what contingency planning he has conducted, with whom and with what agencies? Have the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces engaged with Northern Ireland forces, customs and An Garda Síochána? Have operational plans been drafted to provide guidance and preparation timelines for operational units? What is the extent of the Department's preparations? How many staff have been assigned to deal with this matter besides the senior official the Minister of State has appointed? Does the Minister of State believe that the Defence Forces are adequately structured, staffed and located to address the 499 km hard-Border security scenario with which we may be presented?

We should not be reactionary. Judging by the Minister of State's comment that all aspects affecting our Defence Forces will remain the subject of ongoing consideration throughout the two-year negotiation process, it appears that he is going to be reactionary at every turn. We should be preparing in advance and anticipating what might come down the line.

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