Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is no union representation on his Department's Brexit consultative committee, which was formed in the aftermath of the UK referendum result; his plans to add such representation to the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32727/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Consultative Committee on Brexit was convened in the wake of the UK referendum result to ensure a full exchange of views between my Department and the range of stakeholders across the agrifood and fisheries sectors as the negotiation process unfolds. This range of stakeholders is comprehensive. It currently facilitates effective input to my Department's ongoing assessment of the likely impacts that Brexit will have on Ireland’s agrifood and fisheries sectors, and will play an important role in identifying and pursuing the key priorities for the agrifood and fisheries sectors as the negotiations proceed.

Of course, my Department's work is just one element of a wider, whole-of-Government response which is being coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach. As part of this response, a consultative group of external shareholders has been established by the Department of the Taoiseach, and I understand that trade unions have been invited to participate in this group.