Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of all planning and research work under wayfor 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. [46128/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Minister Coveney has responsibility for coordinating 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 cooperation 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 research, analysis and overall 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. This represents an intensification of efforts to build on the Government‘s contingency planning. 

Brexit is a key strategic risk for my Department and there are ongoing consultations and meetings between my officials, other Government Departments and agencies, and other public and private key stakeholders in order to continue to plan for and mitigate the risks associated with Brexit, and to identify opportunities arising.

My Department is represented on all relevant cross-Departmental coordination structures referred to above, and an internal Departmental Committee on Brexit meets on a monthly basis to oversee the Department's analyses and planning as the negotiations progress. There has been wide engagement with sectorial stakeholders.

My Department is continuing to examine a number of possible scenarios relating to the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including a “no-deal” scenario, and this work will evolve as the negotiations progress. The response plans that will emerge from this will identify actions and funding that may be required in response to threats from Brexit.

A number of Brexit-related research studies have been carried out on behalf of transport and tourism agencies and organisations in relation to Brexit. This is a matter for the agencies themselves and I have passed this to the agencies for direct response.

My Department, in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), is commencing a study into the use of the UK Land bridge by Irish importers and exporters. The purpose of this research is to establish the volume of traffic using the UK Land bridge at present, the likely consequences that Brexit will have on Land bridge usage and the various alternative options that may be viable. I expect this piece of research to be completed in Q1 of 2018. My Department is also looking at the possibility of commissioning Brexit-related studies under the EU’s Structural Reform Support Programme 2017. 

The matter and timing of publication of the sectorial response plans and other related research will be considered as the Department’s contingency planning progresses.