Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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516. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38695/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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517. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38711/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including threats and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38727/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38743/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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520. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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521. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38775/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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523. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38807/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 521, inclusive, 523 and 525 together.

The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ Approach”published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a coordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.

Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.

The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.

As set out in comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.

Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:

- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;

- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;

- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;

- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;

- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.

Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectorial policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.

My Department has lead responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and it will continue to work closely with all Departments in this context to work towards ensuring that Ireland’s priorities – including in relation to sectorial issues – are appropriately reflected in the EU’s negotiating position as the process evolves.

Brexit will also have implications for a broad range of policy areas that fall under the responsibility of my Department. We have cooperated closely with the UK within the EU on a number of these important areas, including in areas such as trade, the single market, and development policy. A key priority for my Department is therefore to build on our partnerships with the remaining EU Member States and develop new alliances within the EU and engage more proactively with the EU institutions. This work is already underway. Discussions with EU partners have revealed that they too are very mindful of the need to intensify alliances post-Brexit and are also looking at how best to do so.

We have already seen the implications that Brexit has had for our consular and passport services. There has been a marked increase in demand for passports and citizenship via foreign birth registration from applicants in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In this regard, the Passport Service in Dublin, Cork and London as well as Consular Division have recruited a number of additional temporary and full-time officers to meet increased Passport and Foreign Birth Registration demands including increased demand as a result of Brexit.

It is also the Government’s objective to exploit fully any opportunities arising from the UK’s decision to leave the EU and my Department, in collaboration with other Government Departments and State Agencies, is working to support Irish businesses to identify new opportunities for their products and services by diversifying into new markets as well as intensifying efforts in existing markets.