Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department has been undertaking appropriate planning for various Brexit scenarios, including a no-deal Brexit. As is the case for all Departments, this planning has fed into the cross-Government preparations being led by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. Planning by Government and at the EU level, for all possible outcomes, has been ramped up and will continue. The Government published a contingency action plan, which my Department inputted into, on 19 December. This plan sets out the Government's approach to dealing with a no-deal Brexit. We are determined that Ireland will be as ready as it can be in mitigating any impacts from Brexit and of a no-deal scenario.

In the case of my Department the preparations in advance of Brexit have been focused on engagement and awareness in relation to our stakeholders in the rural and community development sectors. My focus is on anticipating and preparing for all such outcomes which may lead to impacts on rural Ireland and communities generally. I am very conscious that the potential effects of a disorderly Brexit on communities and on certain economic sectors, such as the agrifood sector, will have a major regional impact. Therefore, a key element of my Department’s contingency planning is to ensure maximum flexibility in our programme of funding initiatives, to allow for needed responses to emerging needs and to continue to build resilience in all communities. The funding provided by my Department to communities throughout this country will become even more important in the event of a disorderly Brexit.

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