Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with his Northern counterparts on matters relevant to his portfolio, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and tourism, in view of Britain's intention to leave the EU in the next two years; his plans to maintain and improve current cross-Border engagement with relevant organisations; the interactions he has had with the Assembly in Northern Ireland regarding the changes that will come about when Britain leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38838/16]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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In light of Britain's intention to leave the EU in the next two years, what engagement has the Minister had with his Northern counterparts on matters relevant to his portfolio, particularly infrastructure and tourism, his plans to maintain and improve current cross-Border engagement and what interactions, if any, he has with the Assembly in the North on the changes that will come about when Britain leaves the EU?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I met my counterparts, Mr. Simon Hamilton, MLA, Minister for the Economy and Mr. Chris Hazzard, MLA, Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland in July and November of this year at the North-South Ministerial Council.  Both council meetings considered the implications of the result of the UK referendum.  Full sectoral audits have been carried out by Departments of both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government to identify the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies which may arise following the UK's intended withdrawal from the EU and consideration of these will continue at North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, level. On 15 November last, the Minister, Mr. Hamilton and I joined the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland at the official launch of Ireland's bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

I will be meeting the Minister, Mr. Hazzard, again in Armagh on Monday next at a transport sectoral meeting under the NSMC, where we will have more detailed discussions on the implications of the UK exit from the EU. With regard to tourism, the Minister, Mr. Hamilton, and I are scheduled to meet on 8 February 2017 in tourism sectoral format, where the implications of the result of the UK referendum on tourism  will be discussed. Separately, my officials continue to be in regular contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on transport and tourism matters.

Brexit is the highest strategic risk facing my Department and along with my officials I will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders, including other public and private stakeholders and with my Northern Ireland counterparts to address the implications of the UK exit in the most effective manner possible. As part of this process, my Department is arranging all-island sectoral dialogues on transport and logistics and on tourism and hospitality to be held in January 2017, to which Northern Irish stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, will be invited.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister's confirmation of his one-to-one meeting with the Minister, Chris Hazzard. Has the Minister met with cross-Border groups such as Tourism Ireland to discuss Brexit in particular and with a view to ensuring EU funding secured for cross-Border projects remains in place? On the hard Border issue, has the Minister had any discussions on, for example, the need for Donegal-based businesses to have access to ports and so on. If access is restricted it will throw up a huge array of problems, particularly for the transport sector, including ports, airports, roads and railways, across the island. Given the projected short timeframe for Brexit and the enormous impact it will have on the island of Ireland, what plans have been put in place by the Minister or his Department to deal any issues arising for the transport sector?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have met Tourism Ireland on several occasions, including formally at my office and less formally on other occasions. I am in constant contact with Tourism Ireland on various issues, including Brexit. It is a group I have met more times than any other, although often for only a very short time. We have discussed the issue of Brexit at great length. Tourism Ireland had a great deal to offer in that regard.

On cross-Border projects, the issues highlighted by the Deputy will be discussed in the plenary next week. The Government's commitment to the Narrow Water Bridge and A5 projects is as strong as it ever was. On the issue of a hard Border, I am not sure whether that specific issue was raised during my discussions with Tourism Ireland but I have spoken to many people about it. The issue of a hard Border has been addressed by my departmental officials with their counterparts in Northern Ireland. Brexit is a difficult matter to address because of the British Government's reluctance to spell out where it is going in that regard but models for all sorts of eventualities are being prepared, including a hard Border. My departmental officials are energetically engaged on these issues with their Northern Ireland counterparts.