Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the membership and role of all Brexit related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38859/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), for which my Department has responsibility, place a priority on stakeholder engagement through a variety of structures. A key feature of ESIF Programmes, including the cross-border PEACE and INTERREG programmes, is the Programme Monitoring Committees which are comprised not only of representatives of Government Departments and relevant public bodies, but also elected representatives and representatives of business, trade unions and civil society. A range of bodies also attend as observers. The Programme Monitoring Committees meet six monthly.

My Department is using these existing structures to engage with stakeholders in relation to the impact of Brexit on the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The Programme Monitoring Committee for the INTERREG Programme met most recently on 6 September 2017, while the next meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee for the PEACE Programme is due to take place on 29 November 2017.

My Department also engages with stakeholders through other fora, including the All Island Civic Dialogue process and related groups.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Brexit related research currently being undertaken by his Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38891/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has responsibility for the EU-funded cross-border programmes, PEACE and INTERREG. The Department has been working with the Managing Authority for the two programmes - the Special EU Programmes Body, one of the North South bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement - on the implications of Brexit for the Programmes. Research undertaken or commissioned by the SEUPB and the issue of publication of such research is a matter for discussion with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance, which is the joint Sponsor Department for the SEUPB and the programmes, along with my Department. No decision on publication has been made yet.