Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. As she knows, we both have a lot of work to do in this regard, as has every party in this House in terms of working together to ensure Ireland is as prepared as it can be for a no-deal Brexit should it happen.

Our work across Government has identified key issues arising in each Brexit scenario, including, in particular, a central case scenario and a no-deal scenario. The central case scenario assumes the ratification of the withdrawal agreement, including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as a transition period and a future relationship between the EU and the UK based on a free trade agreement.

Since July 2018, the Government has made a number of key decisions on Brexit preparedness including on staffing, ICT and infrastructure at ports and airports. At its meeting on 11 December, the Government agreed that, while work on Brexit preparedness for the central-case scenario should continue, in light of ongoing political uncertainties and the Brexit deadline of 29 March, greater immediate priority must now be given to preparations for a no-deal Brexit. Following this, the Government published its Brexit contingency plan on 19 December 2018, which set out detailed sectoral analyses - 20 different sectors were examined - and approaches to mitigating the impacts of a no-deal Brexit. Ireland's action plan is consistent with, and complementary to, the approach being taken at EU 27 level to prepare for the UK's withdrawal. On 15 January, further discussions at Cabinet took this work forward in the important areas of transport connectivity and medicines, with memos brought to Government by the Ministers, Deputy Ross and Deputy Harris.

A number of the actions identified in a no-deal scenario will still be required even in a central-case scenario but with a longer timeframe for implementation. While ratification of the withdrawal agreement is still the Government's preferred outcome, last week the Government published the general scheme of the proposed primary legislative measures required in the event of a no-deal Brexit.  We published the heads of the omnibus Bill, which has 17 parts. We will also introduce 28 secondary statutory instruments to protect Irish citizens at home and in the UK.

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