Dáil debates

Thursday, 26 May 2016

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

UK Referendum on EU Membership

2:30 pm

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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3. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his contingency plans in the event of a British exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12237/16]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A fully developed plan B for Ireland is not possible without knowing the terms and conditions of the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. However, Government Departments, including mine, have been working for some time to identify the key strategic and sectoral issues that will arise for us if the UK votes to leave the European Union. We will continue to deepen our analysis of the risks and key issues that would require priority attention in the event of a UK vote to leave the Union, having regard to the fact that such an outcome would represent a major challenge for this jurisdiction.

The Department of the Taoiseach is responsible for cross-Government co-ordination on this issue, in close partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and all other Government Departments. In the event that the referendum results in a decision to leave, the response and scenario planning across Government will be closely co-ordinated and actively managed.

In addition, there is already a clear framework in place for bilateral co-operation between the Irish and UK Governments under the joint statement which the Taoiseach and Prime Minister David Cameron signed in 2012. For my part, I have an excellent working relationship with my UK counterpart, the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Such bilateral engagement will continue whatever the outcome of the UK referendum, but will become particularly important in the event of vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

Ireland has a range of national concerns and issues that we wish to see addressed at EU bilateral level in the context of a negotiated withdrawal by the United Kingdom. These include the operation of the Single Market and the effects on trade between us, as well as the impact on the common travel area and energy interconnection between our respective islands.

In the weeks ahead, my Department and all Government Departments will continue to prepare for all outcomes. Notwithstanding these preparations, it is the earnest wish of the Government that the people of the United Kingdom will vote to remain in the European Union on 23 June.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am somewhat perplexed about the Minister's answer. He said a fully developed plan B is not possible. I understand that, and the matter of whether Britain stays in the European Union is a matter for the British people, which we respect. The clear view of Fianna Fáil is that we believe a British exit from the Union is not in the best interests of the European Union, Britain or Ireland. A recent report from the ESRI indicates that there could be a reduction of up to 20% in our bilateral trade flows, at a cost of approximately €3 billion per annum.

I hope the scenario planning the Minister mentioned is much more advanced than outlined in his reply. Should Britain vote to exit on 23 June, there would be initial shocks for which we need to be prepared. I am not necessarily referring to a full plan B, but rather to how we will respond. It is my earnest hope that does not happen, but I hope the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade would be at an advanced stage of scenario and contingency planning.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I wish to assure all Deputies that we all will be as prepared at as it is possible to be in the circumstances. It is not possible for the European Union or any individual member state to fully prepare for a possible vote by the UK to leave the European Union. This is because the terms and conditions of the arrangements to be put in place would only become clear through a long process of negotiation, which could well be at least two years.

If the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, a number of very different scenarios could be envisaged. I assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to plan in order to be fully prepared for any and all contingencies that may arise. Accordingly, all Government Departments have been working for some time to identify key strategic and sectoral issues that could arise in terms of our national interest should the UK decide to vote to leave the European Union. In the meantime, our priority is to ensure that the Irish voice is heard on this issue.

It is within our national strategic interest and in the interests of the ever-improving British-Irish relations that the British people and those in Northern Ireland, having been fully informed, will vote to remain within the European Union.

2:40 pm

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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What work, if any, is being done by the Government in relation to the Irish community in Britain in advance of the referendum? While I fully understand that we cannot, nor should not, get involved in a referendum in another country, given the large Irish population and diaspora there, could the Minister provide an update on the contacts he has had with the Irish community in Britain? We are entitled to put our view, as a Government and as a Parliament, and to make sure that Irish citizens living in Britain are aware that it is in the best interests of their home country that Britain stays within the European Union. Could the Minister provide a short supplementary reply on what work is being undertaken by his Department in that regard?

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is right. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that our position is clearly set out bilaterally and at European Union level. While we recognise that the referendum on 23 June is solely a matter for the UK electorate to decide, I am co-ordinating a package of visits by Ministers. I was in London recently and I met once again with Secretary of State, Philip Hammond. I met also with members of the Labour Party parliamentary party there and representatives of 35 Irish community organisations in London. I intend to make a number of further visits to the UK in advance of the referendum. My next visit is to Liverpool and Manchester on 1 and 2 June. My Department is co-ordinating a package of visits by other Ministers who will visit the UK in the coming weeks. The destinations include Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow where there is a strong Irish community. Last night my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, visited Birmingham. I urge all Deputies in the House to become involved and engaged and to make contact with business, friends and associates. I include Deputy O'Brien and his party in that regard and trust that they will do the necessary because it is in our national strategic interest that the UK remains firmly engaged with the European Union.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We are doing very well. We might meet the deadline yet.