Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there will be a particular emphasis on the Border region due to Brexit in the Army recruitment campaign. [44070/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As part of a whole of Government approach, the Department of Defence is engaged in forward planning for the UK exit from the EU. While the full implications for the border will emerge during the course of the negotiations, it is this Government’s stated goal to try to ensure that the current on-island border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible. From the defence perspective, the fact of a UK exit from the EU does not of itself give rise to additional border security requirements at this time. On that basis, there is no particular emphasis on the Border region in the current recruitment campaign.

Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána while the Revenue Commissioners also have responsibilities relating to their particular mandate.

Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces also provide support to the Revenue Commissioners on request.

The Defence Forces at all times keep operational plans under constant review. There is ongoing close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters and regular coordination and liaison meetings take place.