Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are different questions in the group. My question relates to officials in the Taoiseach's Department with a senior role in Brexit and whether they will engage in public communications on their work over the next two years. The Taoiseach would be aware it is common practice for EU Commission officials to take a very public role in these matters. The Secretary General of his Department, other senior officials, diplomats in Brussels and, to use the European term, the "Sherpa", Mr. John Callinan, from the Taoiseach's Department, will all play pivotal roles. Will they be allowed to address public meetings, explain what they are doing as the work evolves and the position they are taking in negotiations, as well as how those negotiations are going? Will they have the freedom to do that so we can have real insight into what is happening over the next two years? Has the Taoiseach thought about how to ensure we are fully appraised of what is happening?

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