Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Clearly Brexit will pose significant challenges for Ireland. The Government is committed to addressing these challenges, mitigating the impacts and taking the best advantage of available opportunities. Last May, the Government published a document setting out in detail its approach to Brexit and the structures it had put in place to ensure a strategic and whole-of-Government response to it. This identified the key priority issues for the negotiations between the European Union and United Kingdom and also mapped out the wider domestic response.

The significance of the risks arising from Brexit is reflected in the Government's national risk assessment for 2017, which identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly to the economy. In my Department, this approach is reflected in our statement of strategy for the period from 2016 until 2019 and our risk register. The challenges posed by Brexit are kept under constant review. A dedicated Brexit EU North-South unit is responsible for co-ordinating the response to Brexit across the Department and plays a full role in the cross-Department structures that support the work of the Government.

The Government is using a highly consultative approach through the all-island civic dialogue process and other stakeholder events. This has enabled us to hear from stakeholders about the Brexit impacts they are experiencing.

Across Government, work is continuing on Ireland's wider response to both the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit. This builds on ongoing research and analysis by all Departments.

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