Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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2164. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the threats identified by his Department with regard to the responsibilities of his Department as a result of no deal being reached in Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26902/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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On 2nd May, the Government published a comprehensive document on Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This document sets out the approach of the Government to the forthcoming negotiations, following the successful campaign to have key Irish issues recognised in the EU negotiation position.

Following on from this publication, work is underway to prepare a further paper on economic implications of the Brexit challenge.  This will draw on the work to date across Departments, which will be developed to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders, and will reflect the core economic themes of the Taoiseach's speech to the Institute of International and European Affairs on 15 February last.  

Ireland’s economic interests lie firmly in a strong and well-functioning EU with continued and unfettered access to the single market, with considerable negotiation required around trading arrangements.  Contingency work at national level is examining all scenarios and we cannot pre-empt the outcome at this stage.  The complexity of these negotiations is well recognised and detailed planning to prepare for these is underway. 

My Department has established structures to manage its input to the cross-Government work underway.  While no immediate, large-scale issues arising from a situation of no Brexit deal being reached have been identified within the specific remit of my Department at this point in time, it is inputting to all discussions and deliberations taking place centrally.  The Brexit negotiations will be a dynamic process unfolding over the course of the next two years and we will address any threats that may emerge.