Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Contingency planning for Brexit is advancing through the cross-departmental co-ordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This work is also informed by the ongoing stakeholder engagement. In addition, senior officials from the Department are engaged with the TF50 EU negotiating team in Brussels in mapping out particular North-South issues as part of the signalled preparations for the future trade discussions.

My Department has completed two civic engagements and published analysis of energy issues in the context of Brexit, including setting out four priorities, the first of which is to maintain security of trade in energy between the United Kingdom and the European Union. A copy of this analysis is available on my Department's website.

I would underline that Ireland is one of 27 European nations of the EU with which the UK is negotiating its future relationship and while there can sometimes be a focus on Ireland’s trade patterns with the UK, it should also be noted that the UK imports approximately 50% of its gas and up to 10% of its electricity.

As the Brexit negotiations continue, of critical importance for Ireland is protecting security of supply and energy trading. Ireland currently has two gas interconnectors and one electricity interconnector with the UK. There are also connecting electricity and gas lines between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and additional North-South and east-west connection is both planned and proposed. There is no reason to believe that gas and electricity will not continue to be traded post Brexit. However, the terms of this trade will be influenced by the terms of the withdrawal agreement finally agreed by the United Kingdom with the European Union.  The backstop provision in the draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, state at Article 6, “Single electricity market - The provisions of Union law governing wholesale electricity markets listed in Annex 2.7 to this Protocol shall apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.”

See this speech in context