Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of officials in his Department that have expertise in custom trade agreements; if he is satisfied there are enough officials qualified in same; if his Department or another Department is taking a lead in this particular area in the context of Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6569/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Department of the Taoiseach is responsible for whole-of-government co-ordination on Brexit. Within that framework, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will lead on the EU/UK negotiations once they begin. Both Departments are working very closely with all other Departments. One of the main functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs will be to co-ordinate the inputs of other Departments as the negotiations progress and to ensure that our range of national interests is advanced through a coherent strategy.

Those Departments have particular expertise in and knowledge of the sectors for which they are responsible. Therefore, within our overall negotiating structures, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine will have responsibility for trade issues, while the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners will lead on customs.

I would recall that under the Treaties it is the Commission which will negotiate with the UK on behalf of the European Union, both in the Article 50 exit negotiations and in negotiations on a future relationship. In the upcoming Article 50 negotiations it will be operating within the framework of negotiating guidelines adopted by the European Council and a more detailed mandate adopted by the General Affairs Council. The progress of the negotiations will be monitored and assessed on a weekly basis by Permanent Representatives and senior colleagues, and the negotiating guidelines and mandate reviewed and updated as necessary by the European Council and the General Affairs Council respectively.