Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

409. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role she will have in the Government’s post-Brexit strategy in view of her responsibility for regional affairs and the potentially very negative impact of Brexit on the Border area; if there is a specific unit in her Department to deal with the impact of Brexit on the Border region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4102/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Brexit poses significant challenges for rural Ireland and for the border area in particular. I hosted a productive public forum on Brexit in Monaghan last November which was attended by a range of interests from the Border region. I am also hosting a Sectoral Dialogue on Brexit in Cavan on Monday 6th February. This will focus on the impacts of Brexit on the sectors served by my Department, with particular attention being given to the impacts on Border communities. This event is part of the ongoing engagement with civil society initiated by the Taoiseach when he hosted the first All-Ireland Civic Dialogue last year. The Taoiseach will host a second Civic Dialogue on 17 February next.

In addition, my Department is commissioning specific research on the impact of Brexit on rural areas, and particularly rural areas in the Border region, as part of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development launched on 23rd January.

The focus of the Government is on continuing with our intensive phase of preparations - consultations, engagement with EU partners and critical analysis - in advance of the Article 50 being triggered by the UK Government. Planning began before the UK referendum and analysis has deepened across Government since then. The programme of engagement by the Government with other EU Governments and the EU institutions, including the Commission’s Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is already underway and will be intensified in 2017. This activity is reinforced by extensive engagement at diplomatic and official level. In that regard, I met with Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the European Commission last November.

The Government has also put in place a number of structural and other arrangements to address issues relating to Brexit. These include an inter-Departmental Group that was formed in April 2016. My Department has been represented on the Inter-Departmental Group since its establishment. In addition, a Working Group, chaired at Assistant Secretary level and composed of officials from across the Department was established within my Department to deal with Brexit issues. This Working Group is supported by the Department's EU Coordination Unit which is also responsible for managing those issues relating to Brexit that fall within my Department’s remit. These arrangements are being kept under review and will be enhanced if required in the coming period.