Written answers

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Brexit Negotiations

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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981. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of all planning and research work under way for the impact of the result of Brexit negotiations in his Department or related State agencies; if this analysis is intended for publication; the expected completion and publication date respectively of this research in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46115/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Minister Coveney has responsibility for co-ordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, he is working closely with his colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This co-operation also involves the relevant State Agencies.

Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-Departmental coordination structures. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their policy input to the Government’s wider response to Brexit, including its priorities for the ongoing Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK.

As the outcome of the negotiations is not yet known, an important focus of the planning and preparation being undertaken through these structures is on deepening the Government’s analysis and understanding of the exact consequences of a range of different possible scenarios.

The potential impact on any sector will depend largely on the shape of the future relationship between the EU and UK.  Prior to the decision by the UK to exit the EU, my Department prepared an internal paper outlining the significant potential Brexit impacts, with recommendations, across the various sectors for which the Department is responsible including energy, communications and broadcasting. This paper has been updated and elaborated on an ongoing basis since then. Senior officials from the Department are engaged with the TF50 EU negotiating team in Brussels including on  mapping out particular North/South issues as part of the signalled preparations for future trade discussions .

My Department has convened two Civic Dialogues this year focusing on Energy. The objective of these events is to gather input from energy stakeholders, including citizens and industry, regarding the potential impact of Brexit. This input is taken into consideration by the Department in its Brexit related activities and planning.

Independent research specific to energy has been published by the ESRI, though not commissioned by my Department.

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