Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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583. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff hired since 1 January 2017 in his Department and in each State agency under his auspices; the number of these staff hires which were recruited specifically to work on Brexit-related issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16180/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has hired 55 full-time staff since 1 January 2017.

Following the UK referendum in June 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a dedicated Brexit Unit within its EU and International Trade Division. This Unit now forms part of a newly formed Brexit and International Trade Division. It is comprised of three staff working full-time on Brexit issues, reporting to a full-time Head of Division, who in turn reports to an Assistant Secretary General deeply engaged in Brexit issues in addition to discharging other responsibilities. The Unit co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff, through an internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of 16 people drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development). It also feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach.

Staff hires within State agencies under my Department's auspices are a matter for the State Bodies themselves once they remain within their budget set in their Delegated Sanction.